Bark will continue to scout ahead
Bark perception to hear the conversation?
”We won’t have time to stop and rest once we get going – the Hellknights will make short work of this door, then they’ll be swarming through these tunnels after us. Then there’s the shadow beasts. I have enough healing potions for all here. Who would like a couple?”
"I will Janiven" Berrin says whilst having his hand out.
"I will also be behind Bark for I am light footed and he will need some back up if he walks into anyting unexpected"it seems that Morosino escaped and unwittingly led the Hellknights to Vizio’s – it’s alright Morosino, but you must learn from this mistake
So thats why the Hell knights came to our secret meeting
Berrin walks over to Janiven before setting off down the passage and stands towering over her."I couldnt work out why the Hellknights came and now I know. Forgive me."
Without waiting for a response he turns and walks over to Bark and places his hand on his shoulder.
"lets be off Bark"
Stealth roll
”We won’t have time to stop and rest once we get going – the Hellknights will make short work of this door, then they’ll be swarming through these tunnels after us. Then there’s the shadow beasts. I have enough healing potions for all here. Who would like a couple?”"I will Janiven" Berrin says whilst having his hand out.
"I will also be behind Bark for I am light footed and he will need some back up if he walks into anyting unexpected"
Janiven nods tersely and hands Berrin three potions. She checks the sack and takes two out for herself, putting them in her belt. "I shouldn't need many, I'm more effective with a bow than up front."
it seems that Morosino escaped and unwittingly led the Hellknights to Vizio’s – it’s alright Morosino, but you must learn from this mistakeSo thats why the Hell knights came to our secret meeting
Berrin walks over to Janiven before setting off down the passage and stands towering over her.
"I couldnt work out why the Hellknights came and now I know. Forgive me."
Without waiting for a response he turns and walks over to Bark and places his hand on his shoulder.
"lets be off Bark"
As Berrin faces Janiven and starts to speak, the diminutive woman opens her mouth angrily, but as he speaks a surprised look comes over her face. When he turns away from her Janiven is left with her mouth agape, as if slightly in shock at the big barbarian's apology. She shuts her mouth, opens it again, then wordlessly nods and continues forward as Berrin moves to the front of the main pack.
travel with me young warrior.....i could certainly use the back up if we come across anything foul and hideous Bark says invitingly.
this should keep him and Janiven apart while they cool down, last thing we need is internal fighting....to perish to such foolery would be.....foolish....
but i fear you you may not be able to keep up. i have the ability to see in the dark whilst you human folk do not. There are not many positives to becoming a teifling but this is one.
perhaps you could stay back just in the spread of Janivens light and have my back from a distance. Be sure to have your senses tuned.
As the party continues on, the sewerage stream crosses underneath a short bridge made of planks, and the walkway switches to the right of the tunnel, with the sewerage flowing along on your left. Up ahead, you all see Bark slow down somewhat, although why, you're not sure.
Map (you are approaching from the bottom of the page)
Some thirty feet above your head in the middle of the junction, a grilled storm drain lets in a shaft of orange light from the street above. The pool of sewer waste to your right bubbles quietly, and fungus covers most of the floor.
[ooc]And no, you couldn't even hear the conversation, let alone make it out.
"What should we know about these Hell Knights, Janiven? Do they work for House Thrune?"
Stealth
"Never mind, you can tell me later. Looks like Bark's spotted something."
Barks is bow is taken from his hands and slithered away with his tail and draws his sword with his free hands.
"No, they don't work directly for House Thrune, but they do have a long-standing... agreement. They have their own code, and this particular Order, the Order of the Rack, concerns itself mostly with traitors, rebels, and other disturbers of the civic peace. Their methods are usually, ah, uncompromising...." She breaks off at Benni's last statement.
bark lowers his sword (Attris should be able to see this with his orcish darkvision) and waves the others slowly to signify they should keep following.
Bark's motion signalling you forward is clearly visible to all, as he is a black silhouette in the low glow of the junction room.
Then you all hear the crashing of the barred door some hundred yards behind you, as well as raised, angry voices.
Main pack: You all see Bark slide around the corner and out of sight, to his right.
Benni, and everyone else I assume, creeps forward in silence towards Bark.
Stealth
Main pack: As you creep along in the dim light, the tunnel opens out in a large room-like junction.
Map (you are approaching from the bottom of the page)
Some thirty feet above your head in the middle of the junction, a grilled storm drain lets in a shaft of orange light from the street above. The pool of sewer waste to your right bubbles quietly, and fungus covers most of the floor.
Bark has shuffled around the wall to the right, and is approaching the tunnel that exits the junction room in that direction.
Bark continues along the wall.
As the main bunch reaches the room and sees Bark just about to slip around the side of the room into the right hand corridor, Janiven murmurs, "There's the sword - Bark's obviously seen it too," and she points to the smudged chalk mark pointing down the tunnel that Bark is entering.
Attris heads in the same direction as Bark following him at full speed
"Morosino, give me your boots."
Benni dips the boots in the sewer and uses them to leave an obvious trail across the middle plank of the wooden footbridge.
He tip-toes back with Morosino's boots in his hand and kicks the left and right planks into the sewer.
"Let's go. Try not to leave too much of a trail"
Take 10 for stealth?
Benni: As you step forward to the footbridge, you notice off to your left a small patch of purple mushroom-like fungi. Thinking nothing of it, you continue forward and begin swiftly laying the false trail with Morosino's boots.
As you're putting down the last boot mark, a bit of movement to your left catches your eye. Turning your head, you see the purple growths shiver slightly, then the room is filled with a cacophony of piercing shrieks, seemingly from the mushrooms. The sound rips through your eye drums, causing you to reel slightly.
As the shrieks begin, Janiven motions frantically for everyone to hurry after Bark. As she hurries towards the exit, she pauses a moment to scrub the chalk mark off the wall.
Bark looks back after hearing the shreiks to make sure everything is ok.... and then continues up the corridor....
Benni does his best to make it back across the planks.
Benni does his best to make it back across the planks.
Berrin will be behind Bark following
Stealth
Perception
As he follows the last of the group out of the junction room, Benni casts Grease on the area behind him, taking in as much of the paving around the plank bridge as possible.
"That should buy us some time... or just piss them off even more!"
Everyone rushes to the tunnel, thoughts of stealth largely discarded - the din will cover any sounds you might be making, but will obviously draw attention.
Janiven herds everyone on, and away from the shrieking fungus.
As the party rushes down the tunnel and away from the horrible noise of the shriekers, verbal communication becomes possible. "Well, that was unexpected," remarks Janiven. "It may turn out for the best though, Benni," she notes, looking over her shoulder. "Those shrieked could only be triggered by heading over the planks. Add the footprints and the grease, there's no reason they should suspect us of goingthis way." She favours the halfling with a beautiful smile.
A few more twists and turns further on, it becomes apparent that the Hellknights are not, at least, directly behind you. The tunnels seem to become less straight and sure, and more serpentine - on occasion, it feels like you've doubled back in the opposite direction to which you began.
Once the noise of the shrieking fungi has been left behind and normal marching order and pace have resumed, Janiven puts her hand on Benni's shoulder. "I'd like to apologise too, Berrin," she begins quietly. "I've been told I can be a little... rash on occasion. But I'm glad you're on the team, and that you're not holding a grudge."
As Janiven finishes speaking, Bark pauses, facing another junction, with one with three tunnels branching out from the one you are traversing.
When Janiven arrives with her sunrod, the chalk-drawn sword shows up, pointing to the left hand tunnel. It is, however, somewhat smudged.
"There it is. Ok then, lead off again Bark," Janiven murmurs.
Bark nods with acceptance to Janiven then moves left down the tunnel
Berrin. Keep that slighty closer distance just in case...
The party once more sets off into the gloom...
"I'd like to apologise too, Berrin," she begins quietly. "I've been told I can be a little... rash on occasion. But I'm glad you're on the team, and that you're not holding a grudge."
Berrin turns around to face Janiven
"With what has happened in my past Janiven, I find it hard to trust anyone."Berrin will continue down the path looking for anything Hazardous.
Perception
The party continues on in relative silence, the taller members (everyone but Benni and Morosino) needing to stoop just to move along the tunnels. About five minutes after the last junction, it is clear that Bark has stopped up ahead.