We didnt have a dog bark... did anybody else hear anything?
Lalandar, suspecting danger around every corner and remembering the sound that kept disappearing last time he was in the building, will pull his rapier and get much more cautious.
Ferrum comes to the door, similarly ready for action, but more cautiously than Conn. "I heard it, but didn't recognize it as a bark until he said as much. I think it was back the way we came." A raised eyebrow make it clear that he's noticed the change in Lalandar's demeanor, but he says nothing.
Lalandar would have told the group that the potion was invisibility.
Bose will pocket a pair of the short swords for use in a pinch.
Upon returning to the group and seeing Lalander's response he'll give Ferrum a knowing look and draw one of his daggers.
The half-orc nods. ”You. Go watch the hall.” He points at Alfren and Conn.
Drawing his blade, Ferrum moves out into the hall and to the left, toward the room where they battled the goblin guards.
Bose will follow Ferrum into the hall
The two locals move as directed by the imposing half-orc. Once Bose has joined him in the hall, Ferrum defers to his lead as the elf is much stealthier, as they have found over many shared experiences.
Ferrum gestures him forward, but readies himself to rush in if Bose finds himself in hot water.
Bose, for his part, moves up to the end of the hall and peeks in. The low-burning fire still provides sufficient light for his elven eyes to sweep the room. He finds no dogs or other signs of life (or unlife, don't think I'm trying to use semantics to sneak something in on you).
However:
Lalandar will follow the two, at a small distance. He will not round the corner, he will stay in the same area as Ferrum.
Bose will move across the room and search around a scrap of cloth which is hanging from the wall.
As Bose rounds the corner and fighting doesnt break out, Lalandar will move around the corner and look around the room.
As Lalandar moves into the room, Bose appears to be searching for something. As he approaches, the other elf pauses and begins to study the floor.
Concerned that he did not hear the dog bark, and fueled by the growing tension amongst his companions, Jaonos drops his head slightly and quietly prays:
Ilúvatiar guide my tongue. Let me speak freely with your creation.
He turns to face Frenhir and releases the energy he gathered during prayer
Frenhir tilts his head, listening to the question, and considers briefly.
Looking slightly puzzled, Lalandar turns to Bose What do you make if this? This place must be cursed or something.. I heard crying that seemed everywhere and nowhere last time I was here and now there is a.. bark? I'm tempted to follow these prints but I feel we are close to something down here.
Let's talk with the group. Perhaps the cleric and his familiar have some insight
Heading back to where everyone is gathered, I'm not sure what was out there but something definitely ran through that room. I'm not sure it matters to us now but it's worth remembering. Did anybody, or dog, identify the sound? I feel, unless someone knows something I don't, that we should push onward but I will go with the group if the majority dissent.
The cleric shakes his head. "I heard nothing, but my friend did. I have asked a boon to speak to him and he says he smelled something in the room with the well, but it did not seem to be a threat. He said what he heard was not a dog, but a not-dog. I'm not certain what that means, but he doesn't seem concerned about the vocalization. More playful than angry, he tells me. My spell will last a bit longer, if you want me to ask him to explain further."
The human, Conn, hisses quietly, "All this standing in one place is making me nervous. We should move before we're found!"
Coming up at the end of the conversation
Ask him what he means by Not-dog. Is that an animal, or would it walk like us?
The cleric turns to his companions, making vocalizations that sound like low growls, purrs, and yips while the wolf looks at him intensely.
The wolf huffs and growls for a moment, then replies in kind.
Jaonos looks up, "Dog smell, not a dog. He's not sure, he just knows that the smell isn't right. Ah!" He turns to the animal again and uses the animal-speech before he turns back.
"He smelled other smells that he would associate with us. Maybe gear like ours - does that help?"
Well, it does open up some interesting possibilities and should make for an interesting trip. Give him our thanks.
With a nod to the wolf
We should probably get moving
I agree. Let's head down the hall and see if we cant sneak up on the goblins down the hall
Conn’s relief that you are moving once more is clear. Ferrum growls at the younger man, ”Close the door to the bolt hole. If someone has to retreat, they can hide there - even a wounded man alone could hold off an army that has to crawl in. And that’s if they find them at all.”
If noone can cast any light, then the torch makes sense to me.
Ferrum, do you want to be in the lead before the torch? Both concealing our torch and getting a shot at whatever might be lurking? Unless someone else has a plan
"As you wish. But I'm no sneak. Give me a long count, right?"
He slips around the corner as Conn nods and begins to count dutifully. He reaches 25 under his breath when he looks over, puzzled. "How long is a long count?"
Meanwhile, Alfren has slipped over to the corner to peer around to see if he can see the half-orc.
In the quiet basement, the bloodrager's movement seems to raise a terrible racket. You can only hope the goblins are paying less attention than you are.
After what feels like a very long wait, Alfren whispers, "I see him! He's waving us to come!" He checks his crossbow, looks at Conn, and slips around the corner. Conn, shaking his head, follows suit.
Lalandar's movements are ghost-like. If not for the torch in his hand, he would be virtually undetectable.
Jaonos, knowing that stealth is not his forte, motions Bose to lead on. "I will watch behind us."
Bose sketches a small bow and moves around the corner, staying back from the magus' light to gain benefit of shadows as he moves quietly.
As the party sneaks down the hall, some are very quiet, but others not so much. There appear to be no goblins in hiding, however, as they come to the end of a short hall unmolested.
It is fortunate that the humans had a torch near at hand, as there is a pit that fills the center of the room and an unwary human blundering around in the dark, well... when Lalandar holds the torch directly over the pit, he can just make out the rough cavern floor below - but for the humans, the pit just falls into blackness and both Alfren and Conn involuntarily back away.
Ferrum points to a hallway to the southwest, "Lots of goblin-talk there." He points to another exit to the southeast, "Quiet, but there's a door before the hall turns. I didn't go to the door alone."
If we know there are goblins in one direction, perhaps we should confirm that there are no nasty surprises in the other.
Cross fires are much better given than received.
I am alright with that plan. Someone should check it before opening the door to make sure no alarms are raised.
Saying this, Lalandar will walk a bit closer to provide light and see what he can see
Ferrum nods. "I'll watch the back. You, come with me." He motions to Alfren.
Lalandar carries the everburning torch to the door. It appears to be in good repair with no visible locks or traps. He hears nothing from the other side.
Bose will check the door
Ie finds nothing he will ease it open, keeping himself behind it and listening for any response.
As Lalandar steps up to look at the door for threats or concerns before Bose gets there, he hears movement inside the room. It sounds like someone is trying to move quietly and the magus is unable to determine how many may wait within.
Bose' hearing picks up similar signs of life. There are no signs of a trap on the door, however. It does not appear to have a locking mechanism that can be enabled (or disabled) from this side of the door.