As the woman whispers to her, Sefyr keeps herself focused on the door, holding a finger to her lip in the universal sign of 'quiet'.
To hide behind the statue.
To make sure the goblins don't come back, nor that we attracted anything else, or possibly another fortune hunter?
Whispering, "Tell me if I am needed, watching our backs."
{Break}
After hearing Wilhelmina Baris gets up and quietly gets to Sefyr.
Still whispering, "Beautiful white one, no going alone!"
Once everyone is in the cave and there is no apparent danger for a minute or two. Baris quietly sneaks down to the goblin who is possibly alive, he whispers, "Death to despoilers". As he plunges his Kama down into the melon shaped head of the goblin.
Then he hears Wilhelmina...
When Indrick places the key in the lock it fits like a glove and slides itself to the right, popping the lid open. In the box you find a small sack of 20 gold pieces, a Masterwork Dagger, a small ruby, and a glass potion vial of orange liquid.
Whispering to Sefyr,"What do you see?"
Do I hear anything on the other side of the door?
Baris slips over to the rest of the group to see what they have found.
"Ah shiney's, collect the loot and split it when this is all over. Can anyone use that sharp dagger? Can anyone identify what the orange liquid is in the vial? I don't hear anything behind the door, but we should all be ready.
Sefyr tiptoes back to the group. There's a golden light shinning from the next room. No flickering or moving or anything else. Single source, maybe. Didn't hear anything to.
To Baris, Not going anywhere, just peeking. I can sneak just as well as you. Stop worrying.
I was wondering which way the door opens? Into the room beyond or into the room we are in now?
In hushed tones, "Hey big guy." Pointing at the Half-orc, "What is your name?" Baris waits for his response, then tells them his plan. "Anyways, I will open the door, you and Tochi rush in and we should take them by surprise, Indrick, Wilhelmina, and Sefyr will support. Any questions?"
"I am called Bladecatcher, little one," Bladecatcher replies to the waist-high halfling. "And I like your idea." He gives Tochi a hearty slap on the back. "Come, let us catch them with their trousers around their ankles.
They are double doors and they swing into the next room.
"Yes, yes, yes...quietly to the doors, then BURST into the room."
Sefyr takes position with Wilhelmina, What was in the chest?
Somewhat regretfully, Wilhelmina told Sefyr what they found (regretfully because she was unable to offer any insight as to the value of the ruby or the nature of the potion). She did, however, have a suggestion as to the loot from the chest. She pointed at Tochi. "I propose we let Tochi carry the valuables for now." She smiled as she explained her reasoning. "I trust him, and if you don't then at least you can know that he won't be able to outrun the rest of us should it come to that."
Baris's plan for taking the next room made sense to Wilhelmina. Hearing that there was already light in there, she left her torch in this room. If there was any cleft in the rock she could brace it and leave it lit, she would do that, but if there was no place to safely keep it lit then she would put it out. This would allow her full use of her buckler for self-defense.
Hoping she didn't clank too loudly in her scale armor, she stacked up to the door in the second row behind the front line.
Tochi gives a nod and a grin to Bladecatcher in agreement to the plan and was about to move into position when Wilhelmina spoke. He couldn't help the smile that cracked his face when she said she trusted him, but his expression quickly fell with the next statement.
Am I a trusted ally, or a pack mule? He thought to himself as he shrugged his pack off his shoulder and held it out in offering to hold the valuables.
"I know my word isn't worth much yet, but you have it nonetheless. I'll carry and guard our loot until we're able to safely split it amongst us."
After whatever decision has been made, Tochi will once again shoulder his pack and step into formation to charge into the next room alongside Bladecatcher, his halberd drawn and ready.
Bladecatcher stands with axe held before him, poised on the balls of his feet. Vertebrae softly pop as he tilts his head left and right to stretch his neck.
Much as he loathed to be parted with the small stash of coins and the ruby, Indrick was even less eager to cause any strife within the group. Besides, Tochi seemed an honest enough person. And so, with a slightly saddened look. The bard deposited the goods into the taller man's bag. "Careful with the potion," he warned. Did Indrick know what was in it? No. But it could be useful down the road.
Once that was all said and done, he pulled out his shortbow once again as he slipped quietly ahead with the rest of the group. This time, he would be prepared for trouble!
As you all start moving towards the door, everyone remains quiet, that is until Wilhelmina accidentally trips over Baris and...
manages to catch herself before falling and knocking over the rest of the group, though her scale mail manages to create a bit of clatter during her little incident. This causes the group to tense up, waiting for something to happen, and ... ... ... nothing happens!
When you push the door open, this is what you see...
The stone door swings open, revealing a room bathed in a shimmering golden radiance like sunlight reflecting off the ocean. The light emanates from a rune covered fountain in the center of the room. Faint talking and noises can be heard.
In response to Wilhemina's suggestion, Sure. Once we have a safe spot, I'll take a look at the potion.
Once the doors burst open, Sefyr quickly points to the open end of the room and whispers, Quiet!
Sefyr quietly moves to the corner and starts edging around, trying to get a look at what might lie in the open rooms beyond.
EDIT:
Everyone:
As you begin to enter the room you all notice a set of stone double doors to your right and an opening in the north-west corner of the room, but you can't help but be drawn to the fountain at the center, its light drawing you in.
Tochi feels the hairs on the back of his neck stand up and gives a slight shudder even as he steps closer to the fountain. "What is it?" He whispers, his blue eyes reflecting the glow of the runes. The back of his mind whirls even though he knows there's an extremely slim chance that he would have heard or read about anything like this before.
Baris never leaving the already hurt 'wizard?' that can be as stealthy as him, thinking to himself but actually saying under his breath "Interesting the more I am around her the more I like her, yeah she is a human, tsk, still so many things to like".
Though he likes shiney things and would look at and in the fountain as he passes by.
When you follow Sefyr and look with her, you hear what is definitely the sound of Goblins arguing. About what you have no idea. From the angle you are standing you can make out the profile of one of the goblins arguing, but you are sure there are several in there. Based on what you can see and hear, you are very sure that you can be present in the room with the fountain, talk at a normal volume, and not be detected.
Bladecatcher's determined scowl quickly turns into a look of confusion upon realizing the room is empty. He raises an eyebrow at the glowing fountain.
"Anything shedding light that's not on fire isn't natural," he declares.
It was a relief to not have another surprise attack on their hands. Like the others, Wilhelmina was drawn to the fountain. At first glance, Mina thought the runes on the fountain would be Sefyr's area of expertise, but then she thought she recognized one and stepped up for a closer look.
Heading back to the others, Sefyr relays what she and Baris have seen. What do you think? Anyone speak goblin?
Taking a look at the fountain, Sefyr casts a basic cantrip and begins examining magic emanating from it.
Edit:
Grinning at the half-orc, Of course not. Unnatural is my specialty.
Sefyr kneels in front of the fountain. The fountain is old, made by priests of Desna in her aspect as Lady Luck. It reads, "Those who wish their fortunes changed are welcomed by the great Desna. Drink your fill, but beware! Not all fortunes are changed for the better..." At least, I believe that's what it says. This isn't one of the languages I'm strong in. The trail off at the end could be deliberate, or just a misunderstanding. Desna is usually a kind goddess, right Wilhelmina?
Sefyr prays softly in the language of the fountain, then tosses in a gold coin and drinks deeply.
No he would not touch it until told it is okay to, especially something so magical.
You should know that when he spoke under his breath, it definitely sounded more like thoughts spoken out loud, assuming you heard it...
"Surpise attack anyone? Follow me!" Baris continues to sneak over to his last perch to make sure he can get a full seeing of the next area.
Springing lightly to her feet, Sefyr bounces a grin to the others. Luck favors us. I highly recommend offering a coin, and not stealing. We should tell Zantus about this when we get to town.
Tochi raised an eyebrow and looked to the others as though to ask "you gonna drink?". He watched Sefyr closely and, when it was apparent that she hadn't been hurt by the water (though neither could he tell if she had benefited either) he pulled a gold coin from his belt pouch and said "A little luck certainly wouldn't hurt." And before he could give his more logical side a chance to begin arguing the idea he tossed the coin in and drank, he was quite thirsty.
Since Tochi got distracted from a fight, Baris comes back a bit saddened. Then brightens up once at the shiney magical fountain shrine! Baris prays,"Desna, Lady of Luck grant me a change in my luck, may it not affect my new allies, but only the foul despoilers and other enemies soon to come. If you grant me good luck I will sing your name tonight as we celebrate our victory in your name!" Baris then drops a lucky number of gold coins into the fountain seven gold pieces. Afterwards he dips his hands into the water and lifts them out, to drink from his hands, not despoiling the waters with his mouth.
Tochi raises his head from the water and immediately wraps his hands around his throat, making choking and gagging noises. "Oh God's! Help me!" He cries until - -
He can't keep a straight face anymore and begins laughing, he stands up and rolls his shoulders a bit, marveling at how refreshed he feels. With a big grin to the others he says "No harm done."
"Seriously, I feel good, now if you gonna praise Desna, do it. We have four goblins, maybe more, arguing over there! I think everyone readies a ranged attack of theirs, we move into the cave, there should be enough room for us in a line, then we all volley what we have. Then Bladecatcher and Tochi charge in, I try to get a flanking position. Indrick you got any other gifts other than use that bow? Wilhen...Wilh...Mina... better... Mina will flank on the side, to not draw attention ready with that morningstar, or healing if needed. Then Sefyr you fill in where you think is best, go for another opening with that blast you have... or on second thought should we go with the magical blast first?"
Do I still hear the arguing in the other room? 'Worried that they heard Tochi's excalmation'.
"Hush Tochi, we have enemies about, though really goooood joke." Baris jumps up and slaps Tochi on the _______, since he stood back up.
Baris manages to smack Tochi on the _____.
Failing to recognize something she really should have didn't help Wilhelmina feel any less useless. The faith of Erastil was just a notch too far away from Desna on the spectrum to be any more than loosely associated, but her father had taught her to "meditate on whatever is good, noble, and admirable," so she felt she had no excuse. "Yes, Desna is a good goddess, but she is not known to play favorites in the draw of fortune."
Being in this blue mood, she didn't find Tochi's stunt very funny. At least he wasn't really harmed by the drink. With Wilhelmina's luck so far, the fountain would probably turn her into a toad. Nevertheless, she was convinced by now that she wasn't going to be of any real help to this expedition on her own power. Only by humbling herself did she stand a chance. Morosely drawing two gold coins (just over 10% of her current wealth), she let them slide off her hand into the fountain, waited for them to sink to the bottom before dipping that hand into the water and uttering a silent prayer for Desna's mercy, not for my own sake, but for those with me, and finally drinking the water.
Baris's plan seemed sound. At least some people were enjoying themselves about this dirty business. Mina drew her sling and pouched one bullet, nodding to Baris her readiness to go with his plan.