If we are waiting for his downtime between inspiring words, then that plan is fine with gart. He can do regular heal checks too.
Arakan gladly takes the longer rest in order for Gart to provide him with more healing. It's just enough to make him feel ready to continue. He lets the others know though, "I may be feeling better, but I am worn out for sure. We can go on into the other cave a bit, but I don't know how much longer I'm willing to go."
Do we want to rest first?
I have 8 left; I could give him up to 4. I'd dig giving him 2 if somebody else had 1 or 2, but I can kick him 4.
I only have 8 gp, which you can have as well.
Not like there's a Blockbuster around these ancient ruins.
gart can give up 2 or so
That's cool.
So, if Arakan's got some surges, which sounds highly probable, do we want to surge onward?
I'm not sure; but I guess this is the extent of the lower of the two caverns; I guess we want to go back outside and into the northern of the caverns now?....
gart can continue, or he would be fine resting. he has used most (if not all) of his daily powers
It's all good to me too.
I'm ready.
2 surges on the table.
Let's ritual and hit the other cave.
Jareen quickly explains what he can do to ease Arakan's fatigue at the expense of one or two of the others, and with everyone's agreement, performs the quick ritual.
With that done, he takes his position at the back of the group again, ready to proceed.
Ruscer flashes his pointed teeth in a grin. "Arakan," he asks in a faintly mocking tone of the beaten-up bard, "Want to come scouting with me?" He indicates the open tunnel mouth with a nod of his head.
"I would, but I'm not that sneaky."
Smiles at Arakan.
I would like to spend 3 healing surges. If Im reading this right thats +21hp
I'll volunteer for the scouting if I'm the best fit.
Ruscer takes a moment to relax. Peeling his mask off he slips it back into his bag. Taking a quick stock of his supplies he notices hes running a little low on arrows. Closing his eyes and letting everything go until he calms down.
When Ruscer asks if Arakan wants to join him scouting, Arakan replies simply with a chuckle. "No."
He decides to expound, "I'm going to stay toward the back. I felt like I had just been tramppled by a Mekillott, and somehow Jareens little transfer ritual has me a little better. I'd like to keep it that way."
I'm definitely not goin' with him.
Stealth for Ruscer:
Ruscer creeps down the hallway, leaving the sun behind. A few lanterns glow dimly, left on the uneven floor at intervals to light the way. Up ahead he can hear voices talking quietly.
Arcane Defiling:[/b] You draw upon the vitality of nearby life to fuel your magic, heedless to the harm you cause the and or your allies. (Arcane, Necrotic, Free) Personal. Trigger: You make an attack roll or a damage roll as part of an arcane attack power. Effect: You can reroll the triggering roll but must accept the new result. In addition, each ally (willing or unwilling) within 20 squares of you takes necrotic damage eqult to half his ir her healing surge value. The damage ignores immunities and cannot be reduced in any way. Special: You can use this effect once for any arcane daily attack power you use, affecting any singe attack roll or damage roll for that power.
"Wait here, I will see what I can find out before we move forward"
Ruscer perception, to see if he can make it out;
Jareen creeps up with surprising stealth for an old man.
Jareen can make out the conversation, which seems to be three-way. A deep voice and two lighter voices bicker cordially about the lousy food and each other's smell.
Jareen motions to Ruscar to follow, and makes his way back to the others.
"There are three of them. Two elvish tribsmen, and another. Possibly from Tyr, but certainly not from here. I'd say he was half giant, or something like that. We should be prepared to take them down quickly, and as quietly as possible."
Ruscer stealth:
The gods cannot see his ass.
Arakan listens to Jareen's suggestion, offering "I don't think quiet is what half of you do well. Maybe we could get some information first, with just a touch of duplicity." No one else may, but Jareen easily recognizes Arakan favored method of conflict resolution.
"The trouble with that, is the possibility they ignore you and raise the alarm. I don't fancy having the whole hive down on my head."
Arakan scoffs at the notion, "Ignore me? Pah. I do believe I managed to maintain thrall over an army of silt runners, and convince a Templar to go on about his business. Besides, you think as a group we can run in and drop them all before any one of them, two of which could be elves known for their speed, are able to raise an alarm?"
He continues his reasoning, "I speak elven, I speak giant, and if it is a half-giant, they are not exactly known for their wits."
"You think well of yourself" Jareen Grins. "Ok, we will try your way. I will be ready to ensare them if they run though."
He thinks it over for a bit, then offers, "What if we could coax them outside where most of the toughs are waiting? Did it look like the guys we fought had a common uniform? If not, oh well, we grab some of their clothes. I help either Furio or Gart dress up like them, I disguise myself, and the two of us run in feigning that we need their help because theeee.... Aarakocra's are attacking. They run outside, two of us are behind them, the other four jump them at the cave opening. Yeah?"
"That could work, anyone have a better idea?"
"Sounds good to me."
"Clothes cover up my handsome muscles, but I'll wear them if it's necessary."
Arakan looks the group over, then suggests, "Okay, I think I'm going to take Gart. The boss man was a dwarf, so it might be easier. Keep your face covered, and rub some blood around the neck wrap. It will give me a reason to do the talking. Don't say anything to them, just hold your throat."
Arakan gathers some of their clothing, and helps Gart wrap up in what the dwarf was wearing. He needs the two of them to sell the part.
He gets the two of them prepared before he instructs the others, "Okay, you wait on either side of the cave entrance, and jump them when they come out. Gart and I will feign tired so they move ahead of us."
Once everyone is in place, he leads Gart in at a trot emphasizing an exhausted pant and letting the bloody clothes and the darkened interior of the cave do a lot of the display. "You! Men! Quickly... *Pant* ...you are needed outside... *Pant* ...the stupid bird-men are attacking.... *Pant* ...they already took out the big guy's hounds... *Pant* ...and he took a nasty cut to the neck... *Pant* ...come help before the bastards get away with it!"
Gart plays his part as best be can, following the instructions of Arakan.
Arakan and Gart stumble into the room and play their parts out. As they do, they check out the opposition. A hulking half-giant sits sharpening his bone greataxe while the two elves lounge about. One elf looks like a typical desert warrior but the carries a bleached, carved humanoid femur - some sort of magical focus. A quartet of archers who were otherwise lying on sleeping mats sit up as Arakan spins his tail. The room itself is a roughly hewn chamber. A large crack in one wall leads to a dark passage which is barricaded with a crude gate of lashed-together mellikot bones.
The elves leap to their feet and begin heading for the exit. But the half-giant squints at Arakan and Gart and says, "Wait - who the f*ck are you two?" He gets to his feet as the two elves and the archers look about in confusion.