The Acquisitions Department (IC)

[MammonAzrael]

Dethir

Dethir jogs alongside his new companions easily, keeping an eye out for an entrance less crowded than those near the great hall.

"We may want to continue for more than a few blocks before descending. The sewers will undoubtedly be more difficult to navigate than the streets, and the students will most assuredly have a head start. We may gain an advantage from moving above ground for several more streets before beginning our search."

When they do stop at their chosen entry point, he gently lays a hand on Lania's shoulder as she moves to use her sword to leverage the grate. He pulls a crowbar from his pack to use instead.

[Salbazier]

Once the grate opened, Rozalia jump in right after Lania. "What a beautiful garden. Now, how do we find those students? Running blindly trough this place?" Confident as she was, she have to admit that finding something in a dark sewer is not exactly her strong point.

[Tacitus]

Relic

Though he still has some objections to rooting around in a sewer, Relic climbs on down with his eyes glowing ever so slightly as he scans around the sewer to try and get his bearings, examining the construction and creating a general idea of what the layout might look like in his head. His head tilted to one side as he ponders and his ears twitch at every little sound as though focusing on even the faintest breath before moving on.

Spoiler

Show

Hmm... Knowledge Arch/Engineering or Dungeoneering (both +11) check for some insight to a general layout and maybe good hiding spots for students? (1d20+11)[25]

Also, Listen check? (1d20+15)[35]
Furthermore, counting number of heartbeats/living-construct-sounds (ie presence within 30ft).

[The Antigamer]

Spoiler

Show

Survival check to notice any signs of students, or other, having passed this way. (d20+5)[13]

[King Tius]

Lania stands quietly for a moment while the others try and figure out which way to go. She uses her sword to provide them light as best she can.

[Salbazier]

Spoiler

Show

I guess I'll help with the checks

Trying to notice any signs of someone/something

Spot check:(1d20+8)[24]
Listen check:(1d20+5)[6]
Survival check:(1d20+1)[10]
Search check:(1d20+2)[9]

[Admiral Squish]

Once the grate is open, you find yourselves looking down a dark shaft of stone. The side is studded with iron bars to form a ladder of sort. As you descend, you find yourselves in the sewer proper. The first thing you notice is an overpowering stench that almost makes your eyes water when you first encounter it. The tunnels that make up the sewer are about twenty feet across. Two five-foot-wide raised walkways on the sides of a ten-foot channel that flows slowly between them. Strange things bob in the dark current, dark shapes and bits of debris coated with grime. The walkways themselves are similarly coated with grime, and the walls are slimy to the touch. The peak of the arched passage is about ten feet above your heads, centered over the channel in the center. The passages echo and distort sound, amplifying the sound of running water many times over.

Relic:

Spoiler

Show

While you knowledge does turn up a number of facts and trivia about the construction and design of sewers, nothing present here gives you any clue as to the proximity of any of the structures in your mind.

Your sensitive ears, meanwhile, pick up a number of sounds. The rushing sewer water is the loudest. But as you block that out, you can pick out the pulse of each of your companions, though Puck remains silent as ever. However, another sound catches your notice, even fainter then their heartbeats. A crackling, popping sound in the distance, almost obscured by the sounds of the echoing water.

Puck:

Spoiler

Show

You don't see much of interest here, though you can see the usual markings of a sewer. Specifically, rat droppings. Lots and lots of rat droppings.

Rozalia:

Spoiler

Show

Once your eyes adjust the darkness, you can see that the floor is positively covered with rat droppings. It basically appears to be just like any normal sewer.

[The Antigamer]

The Puck gives a low whistle, and produces squeaking sounds that sound exactly like a rat. He reaches into his pack and pulls out some trail rations.
If you can speak rat:

Spoiler

Show

"Calloo, callay, come out and play! Uncle Puck has got some food for whoever can give me some information! "

Handle animal check if you want it Admiral: (d20+10)[12]

[Tacitus]

Relic

Though he did not entirely close his eyes, the lids slid low over the faintly glowing orbs as he moves towards the source of the sound, or at least in the direction he estimates it was from. He glances to the others and puts a finger to his thin lips to call for silence as he tries to catch some sound again.

Spoiler

Show

Mmm... what kind of crackling and popping? Like bones being stepped on, electrical, fire?

Knowledges? (5d20)[10][7][6][10][9](42)
Arcana is +14, A&E/Dungeoneering is +11, all others are +7, use whatever knowledge skills fit best, I suppose.

Oh, and if you need an Int check for following the sound, (1d20+6)[14]

[Salbazier]

Not noticing anything but rat droppings, Rozalia can only watch as Puck and Tejat is trying to look for something to guide them. She remains vigilant in case there are some beast lurking too near to the ground.

[Admiral Squish]

Relic:

Spoiler

Show

More like a fire. It wasn't a raging inferno, either, it sounded more like a smallish one. The sound was definitely coming from the right-hand direction.

Puck:

Spoiler

Show

While there is an abundance of rat marks, and they're probably relatively nearby, there aren't any rats in the immediate area.

[The Antigamer]

Puck clucks his tongue in frustration, and puts away the rations. Quietly to the others, so as not to disturb the jackal-man, Puck says,
"Well, there's no tracks to follow, and no animals nearby. I vote we just pick a direction and start walking until we find a lead."

[MammonAzrael]

Dethir

Dethir shrugs at Puck's suggestion, "I don't see any other options before us, unless Relic happens to hear something. And either way, I doubt the students we are looking for would have remained so close to any openings."

Glancing from the from the area of light surrounding them and into the darkness beyond, he shakes his head and says quietly, "Unfortunately, I have no knowledge of sewer design. Do any of you have an idea of the path that will lead us deeper into this warren of tunnels?"

Spoiler

Show

Spot - (1d20+15)[30]
To see if Dethir notices anything.

[Tacitus]

Relic

The jackal headed scholar pulls back towards the group and leans towards them almost conspiratorially as he gestures in the direction he heard the fire, "A fire, and a small one. Torch, I would say, maybe a campfire at best. Come." And he starts off in that direction, listening intently all the while.

Spoiler

Show

Yay listens! (1d20+15)[22]

[Salbazier]

"One of student, other applicants, or just a stranger who have nothing to do with the test. Either way it is something" She walks straight into the direction Relic pointed at

Spoiler

Show

Another perception check, just in case

(1d20+8)[23]spot
(1d20+5)[6]listen

[The Antigamer]

Puck shrugs his shoulders, and follows the others.

[King Tius]

Lania also heads in that direction, though she keeps her glowing sword low to the ground. "If they've a fire we may be able to surprise them. I've no skill at sneaking, but perhaps one of you wants to slink ahead and investigate?"

[MammonAzrael]

Dethir

"I agree," Dethir says softly, preventing his voice from carrying far above the sound of echoing water. "If we can get the jump on them, so much the better. Lania, can you dim your sword? Otherwise it may need to be sheathed before we get much closer to this fire. Does anyone else need the light to see in the darkness?"

He keeps up with the group while admitting, "I am not very skilled at stealth myself, so any scouting would have to be done by another."

[Admiral Squish]

As you progress through the passage, most of you can make out the sounds of a small fire now, though it's still quite distorted. Up ahead, the darkened tunnel sharply turns, and you can vaguely see a flickering light projected on the wall, coming from beyond the corner.

Lania, Relic, Rozalia:

Spoiler

Show

In addition to the sound of the fire, now that your ears are used to the watery roar, you can begin to make out, albeit faintly, the sounds of squeaking and chittering from up ahead.

[Salbazier]

"Are those sounds rats?" She asks Puck in low voice.

[The Antigamer]

Puck looks at the woman quizzically.
"What sounds?"

[Salbazier]

"You did'nt hear it? There is a squeaking and chittering sound from ahead. Probably near the fire."

[The Antigamer]

Puck cups a hand to his ear, and strains to hear the sound.

Spoiler

Show

Listen (d20+3)[16]
If Rozalia's pointing out the sound counts as aiding another, add two to that

[Salbazier]

Spoiler

Show

Rolling aid another, just in case
(1d20+5)[8]
meh, it didn't work when I'm the one rolling

[The Antigamer]

The Puck shakes his head.
"I'm not hearing anything but the water and fire I'm afraid. If I do hear something, I'll let you know."
He resumes walking towards the fire sounds.

[MammonAzrael]

Dethir

Dethir shakes his head. "I hear no chittering ahead...can anyone get closer safely?"

[Tacitus]

Relic

The jackal laughs in a low wheeze, "I will go on ahead and take anyone who would follow." He waits for a moment and then stalks off into the darkness.

Spoiler

Show

So I'm not sure if I ever stated it, but can we assume he tossed up Extended (by a Lesser Rod) Mage Armor before dropping into the sewer, or shortly thereafter? If not, thats fine, but I suddenly remembered I hadn't mentioned it and its not in my stat block. With the rod its an 8 hour duration, but he wouldn't have had it up wandering around a known part of town at a more or less public event.

Anywho, Move Silently: (1d20+9)[12]
Hide if needed: (1d20+9)[18]

And more Listens: (1d20+15)[25]

[Salbazier]

Rozalia looks at Dethir. "If you mean sneakily, that's is not my forte. But I doubt I will be unsafe." She moves forward to the source of light.

Spoiler

Show

Move silently: (1d20+3)[6] not that she was trying much.

perhaps I better stick to spot: (1d20+8)[16]

[King Tius]

Lania sheathes her sword till it is just giving off a candle's worth of light.

"Perhaps I will approach from the other walkway. It will give us an advantage against whatever's up there."

Unless it seems like an incredibly dangerous idea, Lania will cross to the other path and make her approach, not bothering to try and hide.

[Admiral Squish]

As you round the corner, you can see it. There's a space up ahead, where the tunnel widens around the channel. There's what looks like a campfire roaring near the entrance to a ramshackle hut of scavenged wood and metal. You can't tell it's a campfire honestly, because there's a figure seated between you and the flames. It looks about the size of a halfling, but the details are obscured by the layers of filthy rags it wears. One thing you do notice, however, in the flickering light, is that the entire widened section is blanketed with rats. There must be hundreds of them in the space, crawling over one another. Their chittering is a quiet, constant sound, except for the occasional sharp squeak. The hunched figure seems not to notice the vermin as they crawl all around him, some even climbing the dingy rags he wears. The figures seems to be absorbed in his task. You can't tell exactly what he's doing since he's between you and the fire and he's still some fifty feet off in the dim light.