A Shadow Over Arvinon IC

[VestigeArcanist]

Maispar is still looking after these tracks when his compatriots join him. Not looking up, he makes conversation. "Anything that I want to know about?"

[TheDon]

Oloek rejoins Maispar. "Nothing in the immediate. Probably mutiny down the road." and he shrugs his shoulder. "If we make it that far"

[VestigeArcanist]

"Hm." Maispar absentmindedly muses. He continues following the tracks. Somebody should take charge of the masses, I think.

[TheDon]

Oloek follows behind Maispar "I think the hobgoblins are scared of me and the men with a shred of common sense seem to be happy with either one of us, so that's fine, but I doubt the mutiner will follow orders. They already raised concerns about the fact that in the absence of Teven there is no appointed leaders. I'm thinking we'll have to oppose them as a united front and hope their attitude doesn't become infectious when rations become rarer." Oloek whispers the rest. "And I think the chest might be filled with gold coins, so if THAT gets opened, all bets are off. Bunch of fools are easily blinded by the color of gold."

[razorback]

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The three of you, after dealing with the problems brewing at your makeshift camp, move back towards the dilapidated building. Keeping a wary eye out, you follow the tracks past a couple of more building in worse repair than the first. These two look to have been swallowed by the desert along time ago, with walls crumbling and roofs partially collapsed. As you move you can also see a passage to your right with buildings in about the level damage.
The three of you notice that the path the creature has taken seems become a little harder to see as the sand and detritus on the ground seems to lessen. Here and there you can make out what look to be ancient remnants of a stone roadway.
The path turns left past the second building and a sandstone outcropping and you notice that the length of the strides quickly lessens to what you are guessing may be from a running pace to a walking pace.
Another building appears to be jutting out of the wall on your left and you see another sandstone outcropping on your right.
It is here you pause to figure out your next move.

[TheDon]

Oloek turns to his companions.

"Well, this looks as close as an exit as I can see one, short of crawling back up the bloody hole. Should we go get the others before we go too far? I think they'll want to bury the deads before we move forward."

[Linguz]

Karven shakes his head and points forward, where the darkness doesn't let them see anything (and where the darkness on the map is blurred). "I see no wall in that direction. We could continue onwards, but we should make sure that the humans and goblins aren't going to go to war with each other while we're gone."

[TheDon]

"We have no clue how far this goes. It could be several days before we find an exit, if an exit even exist. How far do you want to go before including the rest? We do have the other alternative of using those old buildings as material to build some kind of ramp out of here. I'm not saying it's a great option, but it sure as hell beats starving to death, lost in a labyrinth of caves."

[Linguz]

"True... but something tells me there won't simply be an exit just like that. I still say we should carry on a bit further before turning back. If we find something of interest, our allies might be too distracted with that to slit each other's throat."

[VestigeArcanist]

I concur with Kraven. It does seem we are on the cusp of something here, and I surely doubt that any more trouble has happened in the two minutes which cannot be aptly resolved.

[TheDon]

"Don't misunderstand me, I'm all for continuing, I just think informing the others of how long we're going to be gone might be prudent, how long is acceptable? an hour?"

[VestigeArcanist]

That sounds fair enough. We can follow these tracks for another 40 minutues, and hoof it back in 20.

[TheDon]

Oloek quickly jogs back to camp to inform the rest of the people about them leaving for an hour. He also informs them about the tracks and the possibility of an exit or at the very least water, since whatever made the tracks is able to live down here. Before he leaves, he tells them "Now would be a good time to start digging holes to bury the dead. I'll come and help as soon as I'm back. Try not to get into trouble." With that, Oloek gives the hobgoblin and the conspirators the evil eye.

Oloek quickly jogs back to the others, ready to leave.

[Linguz]

Karven welcomes back Oloek and waits for one of the other two to begin leading the way, not being a very good tracker himself.

[VestigeArcanist]

Maispar continues onwards.

[razorback]

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You three continue to move forward, as planned. About 30 back from where you are currently on map, the ground has slowly become rocky and you are no longer certain of which way the tracks go. Based on the direction, it would seem as if the creature moved towards the building as opposed to the side building.

[VestigeArcanist]

Maispar speaks. "Lets check out this building here." Maispar leads them around the building once over, and inside front the building, unless something interesting or unexpectant is seen.

[Linguz]

Karven follows the bird as he checks the places out, looking for himself.

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Spot: (1d20+5)[9]
Listen: (1d20+5)[21]

[TheDon]

Oloek follow behind the rest, looking for himself. He whispers "Should we knock?"

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Spot: (1d20+5)[20]
Listen: (1d20+5)[14]

[razorback]

Karven and Maispar only

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As the three of you search the outside of the building, you can hear something moving about inside. A 'thunk-thunk' sound can be heard as the air becomes thick with a musky, animal smell the closer you get to the building.

Oloek only

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The air becomes thick with a musky, animal smell the closer you get to the building. When you guys are at the front of the building, you can see a wide set pair of glowing eyes as this comes into view~

[TheDon]

Oloek moves closer to the others and gives them a sign to follow him a little further away from the building. He then whispers to them "I have no clue what this thing is, but I don't think it's a minotaur." Oloek then describes the creature to them as best as he can.

[razorback]

As the three round the front of the building, Oloek sees a pair of glowing eyes the slowly come into focus. Something like a minotaur... except, instead of hands, there are multiple... tentacles extending out, wriggling. Where the bull face should be, with a snout, instead is a flat face with two stalks that flare out in unison with the horns. He describes this to the other two, noting that this creature is about 5 feet back from the doorway.

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Map

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The 'X' is the creature in question and it is a doorway, without doors, he is just behind.

Initiative is
Karven
Maispar
Oloek
Creature

[Linguz]

Karven moves, to O8, and from there should be able to see the creature (right? If not, I'll edit my entire post). "I see it." He puts a hand up and the other one down, palm up and ready to create and launch an eldritch blast if there's any sign of aggression from the creature. "Do you understand me?"

If it looks like it does:

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"Good, then we can talk this out, right? No need to get to fighting. Can you speak?"

Diplomacy: (1d20+6)[14]

If not:

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"I don't think he understands." He tries to get the creature to not attack, to see that they didn't have to fight.

Diplomacy: (1d20+6)[25] (At a penalty, probably, if at all possible)

Readied Attack:

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If the minotaur-thing tries to move towards us and looks aggressive, Karven will create and launch an eldritch blast. Until it does, there won't be a ball of energy.

Attack: (1d20+4)[18] (Touch)
Check: (1d20+4)[19] (Touch)
Damage: (1d6)[2]
Crit: (1d6)[5]

[TheDon]

Oloek sighs, wishing he'd given him a little time to get ready and casts force screen on himself.

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If he has time, he will also cast vigor and ready an action to cast grease if he shows hostility.

[VestigeArcanist]

Maispar is ready for a fight to break out.

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If this creature acts aggressively towards the party, Maispar is ready to cast Ray of Enfeeblement.

[razorback]

The creature walks out and doesn't respond to what any of you are saying.
It steps outside the door way, it's nose in the air as you can hear it sniffing for a few seconds. The creature seems to focus its attention on Karven and Oleok, seeming to complete disregard Maispar.

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1 Karven 2 Oloek
(1d2)[2](2)

After a moment, a bit of saliva can be seen dripping from the creatures mouth. With that the creature lets out a roar and lowers it's head, beginning to charge Oloek.

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Readied actions go.
This is the creature in question

[TheDon]

Oloek eye's flashes blue once again, the ground in front of him becoming covered with a slick substance.

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If the creature falls, Oloek will say "Olé!"

[Linguz]

Karven will launch an attack at the creature.

[razorback]

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Balance check
(1d20)[8](8)

The creature is in J/K-9/10 (large) prone.

The creature, head down, rushes towards the flame-haired humanoid's eye flash and a sheen covers the ground in front of the beast. The beast, unable to see the ground change, slips on the substance and sprawls face down in front of the 3 wanderers.

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Linguz, what kind of attack is Karven doing?

[VestigeArcanist]

Readied action

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Ray of Enfeeblement

Ranged Touch Attack: (1d20)[17]
Strength Damage: (1d6)[4]

Subject's score cannot drop below 1. If he is charging, he receives -2 to his AC, IIRC.