One of the Kobold scouts returns to Andrea with news that he found a small stack of catseye stones placed against the side of a building in the residential section of town.
Assuming you want to head there immediately, the little fellow can lead you all right back to where he found the stack of stones and then heads back to his barracks after that.
Sure enough, once you get there you do see a small stack of catseye stones leaning against the side of an average looking the house. It looks like it has been upkept nicely, the windows are clean, the roof freshly thatched and a small garden beside the house appears to be growing well. There is a small signing handing beside the door proclaiming the owner to be a midwife.
Judging from noise and movement through the window, you can tell that the house is not empty right now.
Alexander's eyes narrow as he scans the house. Mr. Rook, Othniel...find any other exits from this place. I don't want any of them to escape. The tall man looks down at the kobold scout. Good work, soldier. What's your name?
Andrea gears up and heads out with the kobold, when she sees the stones she nods approvingly. Good work indeed. A special bonus is in order after e search the place.
The little Kobold gives his name as Kip and stands up as straight as he can as he accepts any praise in his direction.
For Rook and Othniel, you see a total of 3 windows in the house (one front, back and right side overlooking the garden. There is a front door and a back door.
Silently catching Devilbow's eye, Othniel nods toward the back side of the house, then leads the way back there. He'll stick close to the door and let the tiefling cover him from farther back. The half-elf moves his hands to his swords, ready to draw at a moment's notice.
Finnegan nods, finding a position that lets him cover Othniel by the back door, as well as the window on the right side of the house if someone jumps out of it. He has an arrow nocked to the bowstring, ready in case they flee.
You all can hear more movement and some talking going on inside the house. While you are watching, two women walk towards the home, clearing intent on entering it and paying you all no mind. One, a pretty little blue-eyed blond appears to be around 16-ish year in age with her hair covering half her face and her clothing appears to be that of a tavern girl. Her companion has greying auburn hair and seems to be somewhere in her 40s and wearing garments associated with the merchant class.
Before they can reach the door, a heavily pregnant young woman walks out the door, turns to wave goodbye and then starts off down the street toward an unknown location.
Othniel and Finnegan briefly see a woman look out both of the windows, but she does not make any attempt to open either door.
Alexander nods towards the woman moving away. Andrea, Radomir, detain her, he says, coldly. This cult cannot be allowed to spread. He turns his attention back to the home.
With me, Radomir. Andrea moves to intercept the woman. A moment of your time, I am Consular Andrea and need you to stay with us for now.
The pregnant woman looks at Andrea with surprise. "Is there something wrong madam Consular?" For the moment, she is standing still beside you and it is obvious she does not have the ability to run anywhere. Either she is having one very large baby or a set of twins.
The other two women appear to take note of Andrea stopping the pregnant woman, pause to consider their options and nod farewell to each other. Then instead of going into the home, they split up. The older one going east on the street in front of the house, the young one taking the narrow alley between the west/left side of the house and its neighboring home.
No one else has emerged from the home at this time and you have seen no further movement from within it and the door remain closed.
Kip, take your scouts and follow those two. Don't engage them, just follow. Alexander frowns, Don't lose them.
The tall man whistles and a raven and owl land nearby. He speaks in an unknown language of whistles, seemingly directing them, Follow those two women.
Kip nods and soon you no longer see any kobolds.
Right after that, the owl takes flight in the direction of the older woman and the raven after the girl.
The house remains quiet now while other citizens move about their daily business, casting the occasional quizzical glance the direction of their lords and lady.
It remains to be seen, until we have finished our investigation you will need to remain with us.
The pregnant woman appears distressed by Andrea's comment and her detention, but for now she will wait quietly beside her.
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The birds and kobolds are both following the two women.
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The house is still quiet and you all are getting more quizzical looks the longer you stand around. The townsfolk are wondering if something is going on....
Alexander frowns, Well, it would appear this will come as no surprise. He waves over Radomir, We should do this now. The tall man strides up to the door and knocks.
The sound of your knocking echos throughout the small house, but no one answers the door.
Alexander nods to Radomir, Kick it down.
Seeing that her team will be needing her services, Andrea turns to the pregnant woman. I will be allow you to return home due to my attention being needed elsewhere, but we will be speaking with you later. It is in your best interests to remain there. Andrea gets the woman's name and place of residence before joining Alex.
The pregnant woman gives Andrea her name and address and then continues of her way, waddling down the street.
Radomir is easily able to kick open the flimsy door. The small home is lit from light coming in the windows and you can see into the front room/living room/dining room of the house. There is an open door leading into a small bedroom and an open archway leading into a kitchen.
You are able to enter the home as you wish. If you do so, you find it to be empty with no sign of the woman.
"My lord. allow me."
Radomir opens the trapdroo.
I wouldn't be surprised if they have some basement shrine if they are indeed cultists. They will be cornered rats and we best be ready.
Once you open the trap door, you see a ladder leading down a dark shaft.
Seeing that Alexander and Radomir have entered, Finnegan moves to join the rest. Upon seeing the trapdoor and looking down, he says, "I'll go first. My ability to see in the dark means I don't need light, so hopefully I can sneak up on whoever's down there."
Finnegan draws out his sickle, then quietly climbs down the ladder.
Alexander nods and casts invisibility on Finnegan and Othniel, before following them below.
Finnegan's stealthiness is great enough that nothing down the ladder or in the tunnel that leads from it can sense his presence. Not even the grisly looking severed head that is set up on a pike that appears to slightly turn side to side as if it is scanning the tunnel.
Finnegan retreats a ways to alert the group about the severed head on a pike that is turning side to side.
Once reported, he will continue sneaking, looking to pass by the severed head and see what lies further down the tunnel.
Othniel follows Finnegan.
You two go further down the tunnel and follow it as it curves to right and then and then opens up into a 30 foot diameter chamber. At the far end of the chamber is an alter large enough to accommodate a human body. In the middle of the chamber is a human woman standing in the middle of a 10 foot diameter circle and she appears to be in a trance. Standing near the mouth of the tunnel is a creature that appears to be nothing more than a horrid mass of eyes, mouths, and formless flesh that stares in all directions, its countless maws yammering ceaselessly.
Andrea is ready to cast Bless when they are ready to head down.
Othniel pauses, studying the whatever-it-is.
Things you know about them: A gibbering mouther sees in all directions at once. It cannot be flanked. A gibbering mouther can emit a stream of acidic spittle at one target within 30 feet. A gibbering mouther can emit a cacophony of maddening sound. It can engulf someone and feed off of their blood from it's many mouths.
Alexander shrugs concerning the head, Radomir, Andrea, and I will kill it quick. You and Othniel keep moving and try to catch this cult by surprise. They'll know we're coming, but not you.
Alexander continues down after waiting a short time, prepared to attack a head on a stake.
Finnegan, upon seeing the gibbering mouther, decides that Alexander and the others need to be warned before they set off the head. Hoping Othniel recognizes it and agrees, Finnegan falls back down the passageway, heading to the others.
Once there, Finnegan says, "There is only one woman back there, and she appears to be in a trance. There is also a gibbering mouther, a type of aberration that can see in all directions at once, spit a stream of acid, and consume a creature with its multitude of mouths. It can also emit a cacophony of maddening sound. Silencing the head so the woman can't hear it scream would be better than trying to attack it quickly."
"If you want the woman taken out, I think I can do so easily." Othniel says.
Andrea nods and blesses the party
"I'm more concerned about the gibbering mouther. You'd be alone in the room with it, and no longer invisible." Finnegan says, thinking rapidly.
"We could both get in there, and take her out once the head alerts her. Then we just have to survive against the gibbering mouther until the rest of you get there."
"Ok, that makes sense. I think the others can get there fast, but let's take her out first, while she's unaware. The distance is short enough that they should be able to reach us quickly. We just need a way to coordinate our strike and the others' entry." He glances around. "Does anyone have a way to allow us to communicate at a distance without being heard?"
Alexander chuckles, I expect we'll hear you.
The scream will let us know
"It'll be something to look into later. Let's get in position, both of us behind her. Once we're each to either side, we strike on a 3-count. Ready?"
Once Othniel's ready, Finnegan will sneak back to the room with the woman and get in position with the human-bane sickle. He will study her and the gibbering mouther for the 3-count, and then he will strike.
Finnegan and Othniel strike at the woman, doing enough damage to apparently kill her. However, instead of falling to the ground, she instead appears to heal just enough to remain standing.
Alexander rushes forward with sword drawn.
Round 1:Init 12
Andrea moves in with her shortspear at the ready