Thaddeus looks up from his spellbook. "Quite so, my friend. I was thinking of that myself. They may also have patrols out looking for the bugbear that Jacques killed yesterday. If we are to attack - and I think we should - it must be now. I like our chances much better in the tunnels rather than on the open field, where we can be flanked easily."

"Jacques, consider this - if we can successfully seize the mine, we can set an ambush for them at the gates of their former stronghold! Imagine the shock of going out for the morning hunt or patrol and finding your base occupied by adventurers! They would be tired and disorganized, and in that state we could put them to rout. It bears considering."

"Agathon, do you remember Shirana? By that silly grin I see that you do! Do you remember what she gave us?" Thaddeus will rummage in his backpack, mindful of the gash on his arm, and pass two CLW potions to Agathon. "I'd counsel that you use one of those now, and keep the other for the next time you get hurt. Belric is still deep in prayer and it may be a while before he can bestow Moradin's blessings upon you. I have the third - and last - out of the eight that she gave us. I'll keep it in case someone loses consciousness and needs help." remember these potions are at 4th level

Thaddeus carefully unrolls the partial map of the mine, laying it flat on a bugbear shield with small stones to keep it flat. "As for how to assault the place - I think it was Jacques who correctly pointed out that the crevasse is likely to be trapped if not guarded. Or we can go through the guard tower and the nets."

He doodles in the dirt, as is his habit when deep in thought. "I think the odds are more favorable with the tower. I can make three of us invisible to sneak up to the tower, or possibly even put the guard to sleep. It is possible that the guard will not be watchful or fully alert, or may even be a juvenile or less able warrior - all the good ones may be on the hunt, perhaps?"

Belric looks up from his prayers to Moradin and looks at Thaddeous, "Lad aye can still hear ye even when praying. Aye have one prayer left and it appears that our grinning dicer here need it most"

With that in mind Belric holds up his holy symbol and with gentle touch 1d8+3=11 "Aaaah, thank ye me Lord" Belric quietly states, "Moradin favors dis mission of killing hairy gobbers! Aye felt his power flow through me almost ta bursting fer such a low circle o da healing powers."

"Now Aye be out o all healing, but still have da power to make stones inta painful missiles and can soften da erth! I agree with ye Masters Thaddeous n Jaques dat da fissure likely be trapped n such, but Aye hate ta bug ye, but ye will ha ta leave me out o da sneaking business into da tower. I can come in after ye clear da way, but Aye be much too loud, with me clumping and stumping aboot." Belric actually blushes at this admission, scuffing his boot in the entrails of a bugbear. He looks up, "Aye like da plan o da tower, if ye can take out da sentries, then Aye can come up n help clear out da place"

After much back and forth

"Okay, we'll plan on sneaking to within fifty yards of the tower. From there I'll cast message so we can all communicate, and make both Jacques and Agathon invisible so they can sneak up to the tower. Belric will cast bless on everyone before Jacques and Agathon head out. When they're in position I'll cast sleep on the sentries in the tower, and we'll go from there."

"Both Belric and I will need an hour to regain our spells for the day before we can proceed. Fortunately the mage armor I cast earlier will last for a few hours yet - more than enough time for the mine!" Thaddeus will be short one 0-level and one 1st level spell that he cast this morning and can't regain until tomorrow.

"I feel like everyone should have a healing potion if possible. Jacques, do you already have one? If so, then Agathon can give one to Belric. Yes, Belric can heal himself, but not if he's unconscious!"

"If it's all right with everyone, I'll hang on to the spellbook and scroll tube for the time being. There are a number of spells in the book that I didn't know."

Thaddeus is down 4 points. Is there an inventory of the mundane equipment from the dead bad guys?

Agathon will wait for Thaddeus to finish and will say, "I do agree. With that amount of magical power, we should prevail! I will also use my magical oil (A does of Oil of Magic Weapon he's been carrying around for a while) just as we are about to enter combat..."

Rummaging through his pack, he will pull forth a few feet of string. Looking over at Jacques, Agathon will say, "If we each hold an end of this string and keep tension as we advance, we will not tragically walk into one another while invisible causing noise and distraction..."

Looking to the group as a whole he will mention, "I also think it wise to have our mounts ready to ride and not far from the entrance to the mine. If we must retire from the mine hastily, we can out distance our foes more readily while mounted.

He will hand over one of the two Healing potions Thaddeus previously gave him to Belric.

Grinning like a fool, he will add, "We can do this, my friends! Those nasty buggers will have no notion of their impeding destruction before it is upon them!"

As he listens to the others in their responses to the wizard's plan. Agathon will once again check the tack on his horse and recheck the placement of the gear on his body as at the last he plunks the heavy pick into its belt loop as his finishing touch of readiness...

The party approaches the mine apparently undetected. About 50 yards out, the spells mentioned above are cast. Invisibly, Jacques and Agathon move up. Thaddeus has to move up slightly to be within range of the tower for his sleep spell. He casts the spell and sees the bugbear sentry in the tower disappear from view. There is a 3' high rampart on the tower top, behind which you cannot see.

Agathon and Jacques are about 20 yards from the mine entrance. They notice that the entire entrance is draped with a net covered with fish hooks and a layer of small brass bells attached at various points of contact. The smell of cooking and roasting meat is strong. They hear a thud from the guard tower above and a voice speaking in surprised goblin....

Belric hears the voice from 50 yards away. Since he speaks goblin, he can understand it. "Get up, fool, it's MY turn to sleep!"

“Jaques lad, let me look at ye wounds. With Moradin’s blessings those wounds will be but a memory. 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6. “Now let us be a going. I was thinking dat I could use da darkway prayer ta get us quickly to da top o dat tower, but I hae ta get within thurty feet o so”

at the mine

“Well Thaddeous me lad, ye caught one o da buggers, but me thinks ye woke da other. It seems dat da other be complaining aboot being woke up”

If the others want Belric will cast darkway, since being 50 feet away he can use it at their spot and the party can run right to the top of the tower. If they don’t wish it to be used, then he will wait with Thaddeous until Agathon and Jaques sneak in. He will have his crossbow loaded

As he approaches the guard tower invisibly, Agathon feels the string between him and Jacques moving up as the monk creeps up the ladder to do his work above inside the tower…

Having drawn Ole' Blue before they ever left the thicket where they left the wizard, Agathon will release the string and take up a stance at the base of the ladder sword at the ready. While moving there and while standing there, Agathon will try to remain as quiet as he can.

Agathon’s thoughts are on defending Jacques position should he make noise above, “I will wait here for Jacques to silence the guard and make sure that anyone who comes out of this net in the mean time never goes back through it.”

A Move Silently roll as Agathon stands at the tower base: (1d20+4=9)

Thinking himself to be quite stealthy, Agathon will attempt to peer through the net beyond into the mine entrance.

A Spot roll at the net: (1d20+4=5)

IC hates me this round…

Thaddeus sights in on the tower, waiting for Jacques to make his move. "Belric - I think you may want to have your silence spell ready."

Thaddeus will only fire if Jacques attacks the bugbear but fails to put him down. If Jacques does not appear, or if he does appear and manages to drop the bugbear, do nothing.

Crossbow shot at the tower bugbear (1d20+1=11, 1d8=6) missed anyway. -2 for range, -4 for firing into melee.

Jaques attempts to silently climb the tower,1d20+10=28 and upon reaching the guardhouse, uses stunning fist on the conscious gaurd. 1d20+8=18, 1d6+1=4 I think the "to hit" bonus on the stunning fist is greater, now that I use weapon finesse, but I'm not sure how to calculate that. GM has my Sheet, so please check that. His intent is to put the gaurd down silently, and will continue to pummel the gaurd at the first available opportunity to ensure his quiet demise.

Jacques climbs the ladder silent as a church mouse. At the top he finds one sleeping bugbear and one bugbear kicking his buddy in the ribs yelling "wake up" in goblin (or something like that!). Jacques whacks the bugbear who's awake in the back of the head. He staggers back, stunned for the moment. However, the sleeping bugbear has awoken from the rib kick.

Initiative....Jacques is visible. No other enemies visible or detectable at this time.

Unmodified initiative roll, plus relevant bonuses (+8),and plus whatever he gets for suddenly becoming visible, attacking inside the actual tower with zero warning 1d20=11 Jaques unleashes a flurry of blows on the stunned opponent in the desperate hope of putting him down before the other fully wakes up or gains his feet. He's not quite lucky enough to pull it off.
1d20+7=13, 1d6+1=4, 1d20+7=25, 1d6+1=5 Why didn't Thaddeus's spell knock them both out? I hope Agathon and Thaddeus have a shot from where they are when sleepy-head stands up.

I'm going to assume that Jacques is telling the rest of us what's going on in the tower via the message spell.

Initiative @ bugbear tower. (1d20+7=18)

I'm not going to hit anything from back here! I need to get closer.

Thaddeus will take the full round to move to a position where he is within 80' of both the tower and the mine entrance, looking for a place of cover and concealment. He's 140' away from the tower, and with the full round can move up to 120', so this should be possible. The intention is to have a rock or stump to hide behind, and be able to cover both locations with crossbow fire that has no range penalty.

Belric sees Thaddeous moving up, so he does so as well moving tree to tree Moving silently and hiding (1d20-1=13, 1d20-1=14)

Thaddeous is obviously concerned aboot what is happening up in da tower. I'll cast silence if I hear any noise

If a target pops up he will fire if Thaddeous does

Hearing the tone of the Bugbear the was awake (although not understanding the words), Agathon, realizes that Jacques has two or more opponents (with at least one of them awake), he will take action to back up his friend…

Agathon sheathes ‘Ole Blue (MA), and after briefly touching his heavy pick to be certain it is nice and loose in its belt holder during the step to the ladder (FA), he will carefully climb the ladder (MA).

“Quietly boy… Quietly!” Agathon will silently admonish himself as he climbs the ladder…

A Move Silently roll as Agathon climbs the ladder: (1d20+4=17)

Initiative--Thaddeus, Belric, Agathon, Jacques.

Bugbears don't get to roll yet as Jacques has suprise on them this round.

Thaddeus moves up and can possibly get a shot at a bugbear next round, but they'll have cover. At the end of his move he only sees the top of one bugbear's head over the palisade.

Belric moves up as indicated. He can also only see one bugbear barely.

Agathon climbs up the ladder. He'll reach the top of the tower with the next move action.

Jacques hits the stunned bugbear twice. He feels bones break and cartilage pop, but the the bugbear is still alive, though hurt badly.

The bugbear that woke up grabs a morningstar. Bugbear initiative is last and they can attack next round.

Uh-oh, can't handle two at once Jaques desperately tries to reduce his opponents to one, with a precise, deliberate, flurry of attacks on the seriously wounded bugbear. If Agathon sees his expression, a visage of grim concentration, his battle face hides real fear. Thaddeus, if you get a shot, take it.
1d20+7=9, 1d6+1=4, 1d20+7=11, 1d6+1=2 Jaques haste makes waste. maybe hit him if he's stunned?..and IC continues its war on this character...I liked Paizo rolling better, didn't require me to keep two to three web browsers open just to make a post

Finishing his climb, Agathon assesses the situation with nut a glance at Jacques’ determined look and the Bugbear picking up his morning star and moving to the attack.

He instantly forgets the pick in favor of his long blade… Pulling the great sword as fast as he can, he simply brings it up out of the sheath, over his head and down unto the guard’s left shoulder.

“Not fancy, but it works…" He will think with a grin and a duck of his head to the left to avoid a bit of blood spatter launched from the wound.

Game mechanics summary: he finishes his climb (MA), pulls the sword (FA with Quick Draw), and hits the bugbear that has just awakened from the Sleep spell (SA)…

A Hit with 'Ole Blue: (1d20+10=24, 2d6+6=14)

"Belric, if you're going to cast your silence spell, I implore you to do it now. One of those two sentries is going to raise the alarm soon."

Thaddeus takes a shot at the only bugbear visible, but the target lurches unexpectedly at the last moment and the bolt sails harmlessly through the air: Shot at stunned covered scattered smothered chunked tower bugbear. (1d20+1=8, 1d8=1) base +7, melee -4, cover -4, stunned +2

He will then reload and continue relaying chatter through the message spell.

"Aye" Belric answers Thaddeous, he picks out a portion of the tower where the fight is going on and "Moradin me lord, grant me da power to shup up da enemy"

Belric casts silence on a part of the tower like a nail, attached hook, something that he can removed and carry with him if necessary. AOE 20' radius, duration 3 minutes

"Is dat what ye had in mind Master Thaddeous?" Belric quietly asks as he looks aboot for any other enemies.

Thaddeus' shot misses.
Belric, in his haste, can't find a small nail or hook to cast his silence spell on, so he casts it on the top rung of the ladder, figuring he can pull it out of the wood if needed. The tower plunges into silence.
Agathon cuts the bugbear who just woke up badly, but he's still up, even though part of his intestines are exposed. Go ahead with all the jokes about the smell inside vs. outside, they never get old
Jacques is able to hit the stunned bugbear, barely, just as he's about to snap out of it. He drops, dying.
The badly wounded bugbear attacks Agathon and misses.

Adopting a sour expression as his sword slices down the Bugbear’s front, Agathon will shift his weight to the left as he brings the massive blade around for another strike…

“Whew! I hate the smell of these guys!”, He thinks as he notices that he can no longer hear anything. “Bless you my friend!” He will think in Belric’s general direction as he brings ‘Ole Blue up and into his enemy with a nice inaudible ‘chunk’.

A Hit with the Great Sword: (1d20+10, 2d6+6=[15, 10], [6, 1, 6])

I hate it when IC occasionally does this... This means that he rolled a 15 (Plus his +10 for a total of 25) to hit. For the damage, he rolled a 6 and a 1 on the dice (+ his 6) for a total of 13 more points to the Bugbear...

If it is at all possible (and only if that last hit did not kill the Bugbear), Agathon will use his MA to get on the other side of the Bugbear from Jacques so as to flank the beast for next round.

If the hit does kill this enemy, then Agathon will re-sheath the sword and survey the situation (look about the guard tower and/or the surrounding terrain) for intelligence to clues as to what lies within the mine or if he can see enemies from this height approaching the mine from the field…

To use or to ignore at the DM’s option:
A Search roll for looking in the tower (if the DM finds it to be appropriate): (1d20+1=20)

A Spot roll looking around from the top of the guard tower: (1d20+4=12)

"That's perfect, Brother Belric! You have preserved the element of surprise!"

I'll never hit that sentry under these conditions. Agathon will hack his down presently and that will be the end of that. The best I can do right now is to make sure none of them get away.

Thaddeus will hold his action in case one of the sentries survives somehow and gets out of the tower. If that happens he will take a shot to make sure they don't get away to raise the alarm. +7 to hit, d8 damage, no range penalty

Jaques watches his opponent crumple, from what he thought was merely a glancing blow. Guess he was mostly dead on his feat....what's that awful smell behind me...guess 'Ol Blue is taking care of the other one... Jaques turns around to make sure the Agathon's wounded adversary doesn't jump past to escape In game terms, this means Bugbear is now "facing multiple opponents", but there's no way Jaques is sticking a limb into the way of Agathon's business with the bugbear.

Noting the wrung he enchanted, Belric will keep an eye out for any other enemies, not just the mine entrance but the surrounding woods and hills as well.

Ach by da smell, it appears "ol blue" opened up another bugbear. But what I don't understand is why everyone say their innards smell worse. Aye think dey smell sweeter

The last sentry bugbear is handily dispatched as well.

XP 150 each

There is no immediate sign of a counterattack from within the mine entrance. The smell of cooking meat is strong, but still no smoke. Plenty of old dried blood trails enter the mine entrance.

What will you do next?

Seeing Thaddeus and Belric move toward the tower, Agathon will take just a short moment to enjoy the magical effect of the Silence spell as he quickly wipes off the sword…

Jacques looks up to see the big man gulping air and releasing what would otherwise be a loud rude burp into the now magically silent watch tower offering his friend a playful grin as he does so…

As the monk gives him a ‘would you please grow up?’ look, Agathon will respond with a look that screams false innocence…‘What!?’ He will then take his grin to the ladder to climb down to meet the other two.

A Move Silently roll for when Agathon gets to the base of the ladder (if that brings him out of the range of the spell): (1d20+4=18)

ach me lord, thank ye for ye blessing I feel ye faith in me and me friends mission Belric gained level HP roll for forth (1d8+3=8)

Belric tells Thaddeous " message Agathon when he gets to the bottom o da tower and out o me spell dat he need grab the third rung from the top and rip it out as dat be me target o da silence" With that stated he moves toward the entrance.

Thaddeus will squeeze Belric's shoulder by way of acknowledgement. He will wait until Agathon is 20' or so from the tower and send via message spell: "Belric cast his silence spell on the third rung from the top. Please take it out and give it to Belric so that we may carry Moradin's silence with us."

The young wizard will then look up at the two bodies in the tower, one hand in a belt pouch tracing the designs on the scroll tube from the bugbear shaman. I could animate those two sentries as zombies. They could watch our back...attack any returning patrols...raise an alarm. If anything their undeath would serve more good than their lives of rape and murder did.

He turns to eye his companions. Jacques would understand that this is a war for survival, and that I owe it to my town to fight with every weapon at hand. But the others would not approve and may actively oppose any such efforts. A priest of the Soul Forger and a devout follower of the Bringer of Light, watching their friend create undead? It is stupid to think that I could convince them. I could at least appeal to Belric on the issue of survival - his family lives in Knurl as well - but I'd sooner try to stop the sun from rising than trying to get a dwarf to change his mind about anything of importance. Ah well, Thaddeus shrugs mentally.

Again through the message spell: "Okay, Belric has volunteered to carry the silent rung and hold the net open for us to go through. Jacques will go in first, then Agathon, then me. I'll hold the net open with my staff while Belric goes through."

Jaques quickly and professionally searches the two bugbears corpses, and takes a look around the guardhouse for anything of value/use/intelligence. He watches Agathon with some consternation as he sees him apparently gasping for air. Was he perhaps nicked with a poisoned weapon during the fight? When he realizes what Agathon is doing, the young monk closes his eyes for a moment, biting his tongue to stifle a laugh, and more importantly maintain his serious expression. Oh gods, he's as bad as Wy-tee, the young monk thinks, as he recalls the class clown of his training cours. His old friend had mastered nothing in the monastery, so much as florid use of expletives, instant use of the profane, vulgar, or deviancy, for comic effect. Can't let Agathon see me laugh, it will merely encourage him. Wy-tee nearly caused me to fail a silent movement course by giving me the giggles. If recalling an Agathon antic in those mines, the consequences could be dire. He looks to Thaddeus who appears to be thinking about something important, and then quietly moves up to the edge of the netting, "slicing the pie", in approaching the corner, to remain out of the view of anything inside the mine.

The bugbears have 35cp and 18 sp.

The netting opens silently thanks to the rung of silence, on which you have about 2 minutes left. Light from the outside illuminates the 15' wide mine shaft to about 40' beyond which is shadows.

The cooking meat smell is strong. Still no smoke. Dried blood trails crisscross the floor.

No enemies visible

As Jacques gets low and peers through the net, Agathon will check quickly to ensure that his cure potions are where he can get at them, as well as his Sun Rods. He will have a Tanglefoot bag in his hand ready to throw (the sword is sheathed for now).

Carefully following Jacques through the net (being certain to go slow and follow the monk’s movements and directions with extreme care), Agathon will enter the mine behind his friend.

Silently, he will pray… “Pelor, I once again leave the radiance of your light to plunge into the darkness to rid it of those who spurn your countenance. Grant me the strength to be a comfort to my friends and a worthy foe to your enemies…”

Thaddeus carefully makes sure his crossbow is loaded, then follows Agathon through the net. Once through he will use his staff to hold the net open for Belric.

He will pause a moment to allow his eyes time to adjust to the dimness, then follow the others down the tunnel.

Jaques, moving out front of the next party member by twenty yards, is moving silently and hiding. He's using the established communication protocol with Thaddeus to advise the party, silently, as to what he sees.
1d20+10=22, 1d20+9=12

Belric will move trying to stay hidden 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (5) - 1 = 4 as he moves under the net. He will follow his lads looking ahead into the darkness 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 = 15

Jacques advances to square J20 on the bugbear mine map. The party is behind him as indicated. The sunrod lights the way. As his eyes adjust, in square K17....a swirling 8' tall miniature dust devil, like a miniature tornado....sucking up smoke from the hallways beyond.

The tornado moves towards Jacques...

Initiative....

Initiative at the bugbear mine (1d20+7=18)

Standing just outside the radius of the silence spell, Thaddeus will remain in contact with Jacques. The description of the dust devil piques his interest and may spark a memory: Knowledge/arcana roll (1d20+5=15)

Thaddeus will hurriedly motion to Agathon to enter the mine, and then move the 20' to the mine entrance and duck inside himself. If he has action left in the round he will hold the net open with his staff for Belric to pass through.

Jaques is fascinated by the creature he sees before him. He knows it's an air elemental, though he's never seen one before. Thaddeus, I've got an air elemental here in front of me, I don't know if it's hostile. It's amazing, I want to try to talk to it. Jaques softly and nearly silently whistles a soothing breath, between his toungue and teeth, in a manner he feels should be a warm greeting to the creature. His manner is almost the way a person will make soothing sounds to a strange dog. C'mon boy I'm ok you're ok. Wonder what you're doing here... He does not attack, focusing instead on avoiding being hurt by the creature, while trying to soothe it.

initiative 1d20+2=17

Belric enters the mine and sees the dust devil, knowledge arcana 1d20+4=17
"Stay away..." darn it da silence is not letting me warn me fellows

Belric will try to get everyones attention and pantomime attacking the elemental. I'll hae ta get out o dis silence spell so aye may banish da evil creature

Belric will toss the rung farther into the mine 1d20+3=18 so that he will be freed from the silence and hopefully block the upcomming sounds of battle.

Agathon rolls initative.
An Initiative Roll: (1d20+8=9)

His jaw dropping in surprise at seeing the whirlwind move with purpose toward Jacques, the scene amazes Agathon into nearly causing him to tarry in his wonder…

Handily explaining his roll of a “1” for initative…

Blinking his eyes once, gritting his teeth hard, and pulling the sword on the run, Agathon will charge the “Wind Devil.” (as he has labeled it in his mind…)

A strike with 'Ole Blue at the end of his charge: (1d20+11=30, 2d6+6=12)

Feeling the sword meet with resistance as it slashes through the whirlwind before him, Agathon can’t repress a shudder at the complete alieness of this ‘creature’…

Mechanics note: He is +2 to his hit and -2 to his AC this round (bringing his AC down to 17), while the player grumbles at the silly new rule that renders that spectacular hit not a possible critical…

Order: Air elemental, Jacques/Thaddeus (tie), Belric, Agathon

The air elemental moves first. It glides with awesome power and grace into square J19, hovering in front of Jacques. IT does not attack and continues to suck up copious amounts of smoke from the large mine shaft to the east.

Jacques makes soothing noises at the creature, but also notices four bugbears, carrying nothing but hatchets and large butcher knives, wearing only leather aprons, carrying a litter made of a table top piled with something irregular shaped. They don't appear to have noticed you all yet, as the amount of smoke flowing towards the air elemental is significant. It smells delicious. Jaques attempt at diplomacy total roll is a 19. Maybe that's why the air elemental didn't attack, but maybe not?

Thaddeus moves to I-23. Belric moves to J-23 after Thaddeus held the net open for him. Belric and Thaddeus spot no other activity, but can clearly see the air elemental up ahead. Belric throws the silent rung, which has 16 rounds left on it, past the air elemental. The light wood almost gets caught up in the air elemental's vortex, but skitters silently on to the floor behind it, about J-17.

Agathon charges the creature. He miscalculated the distance slightly and ends up in square J-21 at the end of his charge, the air elemental still 5' out of reach. Plus, Jacques is in the way, so he'll have to take a 5' step to reach it assuming it doesn't move.

Jaques gives Agathon the "waive off" to not attack the elemental. He urgently thinks at Thaddeus to let the others know he somehow is connecting with it, and to give him some space. He is standing close, his clothes and hair, whipping about, smiling.

“WTF!?”, Agathon will think to himself… As he will brings himself up short in response to Jacques’ forceful wave off…

Still in wonder of the ‘Wind Devil’, Agathon will not attack He will crouch a bit and split his attention between the whirlwind creature and the four Bugbears carrying the table top…

Agathon will look intently through all the smoke flying toward the ‘Wind Devil’ to attempt to determine what the four Bugbears are carrying on the table top and to see if there are any other enemies about…

A Spot Roll to determine what is being carried by the Bugbears and seeing other enemies about: (1d20+4=12)

As Jacques waves him off of the attack, Agathon thinks he means all attacks. That’s why he stopped there next to Jacques… Agathon will end up taking a 5 foot step (or a move if required to be in Square K21 right next to Jacques and the Air Elemental with sword at the ready.

To all via the message spell: "You guys, don't engage the air elemental yet! Jacques seems to be able to talk to it and it's not attacking - let's leave him to that and see about the other bugbears in the rest of the place."

Thaddeus will advance carefully to L-20 and do a quick peek around the corner. If the air elemental moves to block him, Thaddeus will stop and take no hostile action. He will not fire on the bugbears unless he thinks he has been spotted.

Belric grips his holy symbol and waits for the evil funnel of trickery suck Jaques in and spin him to death. They just don't understand aboot these air creatures.

Belric will hold his action, and at the first sign of attack by the elemental he will try to destroy or turn it. Moving so that he is within the 30 feet needed.

The air elemental does not attack. It does nothing except suck up more smoke, as a matter of fact.

Thaddeus moves to L20 and peeks around the corner. He notices the 4 unarmored bugbears moved down the mine shaft directly to the north. They do not appear to have noticed you at all. There is much smoke down towards the east, but Thaddeus can make out more shapes of what are probably more bugbears working in the shaft.

Jacques senses that the air elemental is not going to attack unless it is attacked first. It's apparently bound to its location. It is far from home and lonely.

Belric can stay where he is at and be within 30' of the creature and ready his action as indicated.

Agathon takes his step. He notices that whatever the bugbears are carrying before they disappeared from view was a large number of flat, hand sized slabs of something dark.

“Hmmm… Well, now I’ve seen everything! Agathon will think as he sees that Jacques is trying (with some apparent success) to talk to the ‘Wind creature’. “Stick to what you know, boy! These are dealings above your lot!” He will silently chide himself as he signals to the others that he is moving forward…

Forgetting to try to scoop up the rung with the Silence spell upon it, Agathon will jog past the Wind Creature to a point just inside the North tunnel where those bearing the litter went…

A Move silently Roll Should it be required for his Jog: (1d20+4=17)

A Spot Roll for looking farther down the North Tunnel: (1d20+4=15)

Agathon will jog the 50 feet to Square P14 and press himself against the wall so that he is out of sight of anyone to the east (in or around the Smelter) and so that he can see farther ahead down the curving north tunnel. That’s a MA, MA.

Through the message spell: "I'm going to get the rung with silence on it, so we'll be out of contact until I throw it somewhere."

Having listened to Jacques' melodic whistling and the air elemental's own forlorn echoes, Thaddeus sees a way to further soothe the creature and inspire it to trust Jacques. He will alternate whistling and humming for a few seconds; the gentle breeze ruffling his hair tells him he succeeded. Diplomacy at air elemental (1d20+7=21)

Thaddeus will then move to J-17 and pick up the rung of silence, and attempt to conceal himself in whatever shadows are available - Hide in bugbear mines (1d20+3=6)

WHile keeping glaring eye on the funnel of death, Belric will follow Agathon. Seeing that Thaddeous recovered the rung, Belric will load his crossbow while in the zone of silence.

Keeping his attention divided between the elemental and where he is walking makes him very grumpy

Jaques will attempt to communicate his sympathy with the elemental. He will then try to indicate that he and his friends will "deal with" the creatures that seem to be binding it here. At that he moves cautiously towards the direction of the bugbears bearing the litter. He moves quietly as possible and keeps to the shadows. He hopes to be able to coordinate a surprise attack, with the attacks of his compatriots. Poor thing, I hope it understood that I intend to try and help it. I've never seen such a magnificent creature before. Even it's scent...so....familiar.