Ah, okay in that case.
Zatqualmie readies his little bow, preparing to loose an arrow at the meanest looking Cultist whenever Ragar gives the word
"Guilt or innocence can be discussed later. But if we can avoid expending resources on a fight, then all the better."
Darius looks thoughtful and then nods.
"Mistress Zethaya, If you can indeed shape minds to your will, perhaps it would be best to attempt to do so on our sleeping friend here. Assuming it works, you could have him try to convince the others that there are enemies carrying off a chest of treasure and riding away from here. If he could draw out at least half of those soldiers on this wild goose chase, it would be to our advantage."
"I'm afraid that we'll likely need to subdue the rest, though."
"Very well. Now as I said, it is not mind control, this spell will cause him to regard me as a friendly acquaintance, I will still have to convinve him that I'm acting on the cult's behalf. So I think it would have more effect if I appear as part of the cult. So I should ask all of you to remain hidden and if any of you still have a disguise on you I will need it."
"Understood. And we do indeed have some disguises here. Take one," Darius said as he withdrew a cultist uniform in a gaudy purple shade. "I've washed it, but it'll be bit wrinkled."
"But I must insist someone stay with you in case the plan goes awry. Master Zatqualmie, please hide here among the detritus and only reveal yourself should Mistress Zethaya need assisstance."
"We'll leave you to it then. Good luck to you both."
"Just my color." Zethaya says as she accepts the uniform.
"Hide somewhere nearby. I will join you, if I manage to convince him and he riled up more of his compatriots. Once they have left we can go back in and take care of any stragglers."
She turns to Zat: "Unless I get knocked out, please do not interfere until I explicitly ask your assistance. I will leave to rejoin the others as our 'friend' alerts the other cultists, wait for them to leave, then rejoin with us."
"Allow me to help you, if you will accept it"
Emyrelda gives 1d6 bardic inspiration and 1d4 Guidance to Zethaya
"It's a risky plan, but if we can ease the fight, I think it's worth trying. Where do you want us to hide if the situation goes bad? There's what looks to be a drop-off in the main cavern. We could check that out first and see if it makes a suitable place out of the way but not far where we can hide." Rhen suggests.
"Thank you, Lady Emyrelda. Yes, we should make sure we have a suitable place rejoin."
Ragar shakes his head.
This does not seem like a sound plan. I advise against it, but if everyone wants to try the sneaky approach, then I will have no choice but to attempt it as well. Where are we supposed to hide so that Zeth can try and draw them out? Won't we leave a bunch behind us if that works? I do not like leaving enemies at our backs.
"Have faith, Ragar. Give us a moment to secure another area, and we can carry on with our plans to divide and conquer. Our inebriated would-be ally isn't going anywhere. Rhen, come with me. Let's secure our fallback position. We'll be back shortly."
Rhen readies his bow and goes with Darius to scout ahead in the main passage of the cave system.
Emyrelda will stay where she is with Ragar for the moment.
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Area 2 is clear and is only a passage.
Area 3. Fungus Garden.
The entrance to the cave ends here at a 10 foot drop off. To your right broad steps are roughly hewn into a natural stone ramp. The cavern below is carpeted with a profusion of fungi ranging from a few inches high to nearly as tall as a human adult. Two paths lead through the fungi oe to the right and one to the left.
I need to know who enters here.
Rhen puts his hand up to indicate that Darius should hold back. He then takes a knee to better observe the paths from his current vantage point. He scans about, looking for dangerous types of fungus based on his knowledge of the natural world. Then he takes a look at the two paths ahead to see if there are any traces of use. Could be that one is more traveled than the other, which might indicate safer flora - or possibly that neither is traveled at all...
Zat nods to Zenthaya and hides
Darius nods to Rhen and stops at the stairs, trusting the elf's expertise.
Now that Rhen has spotted the violet fungi, he makes his way down the steps to get a closer look at the trail, avoiding the violet fungi to the best of his ability.
Darius reports to the others, "We have our waiting area. Let's go. Zethaya give us a minute then do your part of the plan. Good luck."
Ragar shakes his head and follows the others, with his axe ready before him.
Rhen helps make sure everyone steers clear of the purple fungi.
"Very well." Zethaya dons the uniform and while the rest of the group makes their way toward the agreed hiding spot, she unties the prisoner and stows away the rope.
When he wakes up she will cast charm person.
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Darius
Ragar
On the way down Darius and Ragar both manage to trip a trap hidden in the stairs which causes them to become a slick slide right into the Violet Fungi.
Darius
Ragar
The drunken cultist awakes only to be memorized by the beautiful Zethaya. Who're you? I haven't seen you here before. You must be new.
Zethaya welcomes the cultist back to the waking world with a worried look and an urgent tone: "Finally you wake up! Listen to me, there isn't much time! The people who took our prisoners have come back! They made it to the hatchery somehow and stole several eggs!", she looks out to the passage, then turns back to the cultist offering her hand to pull him up.
"I saw them leave the cave, I think they were heading back towards greenest. Wake the others," she points toward the room where the most of the cultists reside: "I will go ahead and track the thieves. I'll come back if they change course."
Darius gets up, draws his rapier and attempts to stab the fungus. But in his hurry he can't manage it.
Frustrated, Darius carefully disengages.
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miss.
Ragar go ahead.
In the other room, the cultist immediately snaps to attention and goes to grab the other cultist, relaying the information.
Setting DC, disadvantage for sobriety level.
I think I will take the 14
Others insight to resist previous persuasion
It looks like 5 believe him and leave the room.
"Dammit! I didn't spot the trap!" Rhen says as he fires his bow at one of the fungi.
While the cultist is getting his friends, Zethaya leaves to rejoin the others.
Seeing the others attacking the fungi, she calls them to be silent.
Ragar attacks the the Fungi.
"Hide!" Darius whispers harshly.
"Well, that was a bit more exciting, than I would have liked, but nonetheless, excellent work, Zethaya."
"Alright, everyone, time for an ambush. We'll wait up near the entrance, while Master Zatqualmie heads back to the barracks. Hidden from view, he'll attack one of the cultists, let them see him and then fall back as fast as possible."
"Once we have them out in the open we'll spring our trap. We'll open with ranged attacks followed by a melee rush led by our Master Ragar."
"I understand not everyone here is comfortable with guerilla tactics. But we are a small group. And we spared as many as we safely could with our diversion. Those that are left will simply need to be put down quickly. It is unfortunate, but necessary."
"Let's get into position. Master Zatqualmie, good hunting."
Let me know when.
Zethaya bows slightly: "Let's hope they will run far before they realize what is going on. Either way at least we have fewer of them to deal with at a time."
She reaches out to produce her black sword from its extradimensional storage and gets in position with Ragar.
Zat waits in his expert hiding place, ready to do mischief!
Emyrelda hangs way back so as not to screw up the stealth rolls and prepares to use ranged combat spells
Rhen gets his arrows ready and nocks one to his bowstring. He then nods to Darius that he is ready to shoot.
Zat waits in his expert hiding place, ready to do mischief!