Tania motions to Idrian that she'll follow his lead.
She tightens her grasp on her longspear but also let's him see clearly that she could use her shortbow if he orders her so.
Idrian prefers the bow.
Composite Longbow: to hit incl/ PB Shot
Composite Longbow: damage
The hiss of Idrians bowshot is followed by the dash and thrust from Tania, and as quickly as that the man is dead. As brutal and sudden as it was, it now left the cave unguarded and allowed for their companions to join them in safety at the bottom of the trail.
Tania waves to the others, then covers Idrian's bow with her longspear and armor while they come down. She whispers: "Do we want to do this inside or outside? They might have another way out..."
"Alive, remember if we can. One or two Creedy's would be good. I would like to know what this goblin raid was all about. It was very involved."
"I'll do what I can." Idrian stalks down to the cave and peers in.
Stealth
Perception
"I'll follow you, Idrian. Things are sure to get messy here..." Algus says as he follows with a slight distance behind the Half-Elf Hunter, readying his Crossbow and staying on guard in case of any ambush.
The cave entrance begins wide, but quickly narrows as it winds up slightly from he shoreline. The ground is uneven, but it has been cleared of loose debris and appears to be well used.
Ahead of them, the flickering light from torches, and the smell of a small cook fire wafts down the tunnel. A conversation between two men is also heard, coming with the loudness and baudiness that only alcohol brings with it. The obvious distraction of those inside is lucky, because Algus seems to making a large amount of noise as he walks up the tunnel. Various bottles and containers jangle against the cavern walls and slosh with the liquids within them as he moves, making Idrian turn and look at him with a frown.
The half elf soon comes to the end of the narrow tunnel, and finds the cavern system opens into a much larger cave. He calls a halt to those behind him while he takes in the scene.
Following Idrian, Tania moves through the tunnel in a silent manner. As they halt, she confirms her grip on her longspear. Tunnel fighting... And we're supposed to take prisonner. I hope Jo'no does have a trick up his sleeve...
She lets Feldspar go in front of her, showing him the longspear.
Stealth:
Perception:
Feldspar pulls free his warhammer and moves in front of Tania, with a nod of respect for her long spear. He considers his shield for a moment and decides to ready it later. With a glance to True he invites her to his left side with a nod.
With the party settled into position, Feldspar and Idrian take a good look around the cavern. Their enhanced vision aided them greatly in thi endeavour, picking out details like the barrels and crates that the others would barely glimpse in the dim light.
On the far side of the cavern, a crude wooden stair case leads up to a natural fissure in the rock. This could be teh entrance to antoher cave or perhaps a bolt hole outside.
Two other exits are visible, both to the left of the party. One seems to slope down, through an open doorway where the sound of water moving with the ebb and flow of the ocean can be heard.
The other slope gently up to a closed door. It is from this area that the sound of the revelry can be heard.
Even as they gather this information, both men hear a low frowl followed by the scuffle of two dogs wrestling over some scrap of food. The noise seems to be coming from a group of crates at the very top of the main cavern.
True guards the rear, keeping everyone in sight in case healing is needed.
Tania reacts quickly at the sound of the dogs. Dogs, that's bad! They'll alarm the Creedy's if we're too slow!
She turns to the others and whispers: "We need to take those dogs out before they alarm the Creedy's!" She puts her longspear to the ground and takes out her bow, preparing an arrow.
"I presume you have more experience than any of the rest of us at fighting in caves, Feldspar." Idrian follows Feldspar's lead.
"I have to agree with Idrian here. I've never been much in caves...more of a mountain fellow, heh.", Algus jokingly says as he readies his aim towards the entryway in the Northwest, ready to pin down anyone who would want to charge through.
"Aye, I know the realm beneath the earth as well as any but stealth has never been in my purview." Feldspar whispers, eying the ground between himself and the crates. "If we're going to silence the dogs before they give warning, we'll need weapons with some range. Have any of you resources to affect a general area from this far back?" He pauses and glances at Algus. "Quietly, I mean?"
As he spoke, he carefully returned his warhammer to his belt and readied a heavy crossbow in its place.
True takes out her light crossbow and carefully and quietly loads it waiting for battle. She grasps her holy symbol and calls on Iomedae to help the party in their endeavours to come.
The sound of the wrestling dogs suddenly halts as the group readies for combat. Perhaps it is the spell being cast by True, or maybe the sound of the crossbow arms locking into place, but whatever the noise, the two mastiffs are alerted and come racing out from behind the crates, their heads turning rapidly as they look for trouble.
Tania, who was ready for such an event, unleashes her shortbow but the shot flies just wide of the mark, her arrow head causing sparks to fly from the stone floor near the closest dog.
Both animals suddenly pick out Idrian and Feldspar at the mouth of the tunnel, and their ears flatten as they prepare to race in and attack.
Now that the battle is joined, Iomedae calls to the heart of True and she marches forwards 20 feet to get a clear shot at a dog.
"By Rovagug's teeth!" she mutters at the wide shot, dropping the bow in readiness for melee. "The blessing of honour only lasts for several heartbeats so be strong and brave, take heart warriors of Sandpoint."
Feldspar offers a silent prayer of thanks to Torag for the dogs not barking and steps forward, raises his crossbow and fires a shot.
True leans back against the wall to let everyone charge passed, if they wish to.
True fires her crossbow, but as her minor frustrated oath attests, it flies well and truly wide of teh mark. Feldspar proves much more capable with the weapon though, punching his bolt through the chest of the chest of the closest dog just behind its shoulder. With a yelp the animal goes down, blood spraying form its mouth in a foam.
Jo'No, realising he is at the back of teh party with not much to use against the beasts, chooses to hold back slightly, waiting to use one of his prepared spells against the Creedy's in the hopes of capturing them alive.
The second dog snarls and baarks as it moves into attack. Its gait is hampered somewhat by Tania's arrow from earlier. The shaft must have skipped from the stone and struck the dog coming in behind. Its wounds furhter seem to hinder the creature for despite closing quickly with True, it fails to land a bite on teh woman. The two of them engaged in combat does seem to effectivley block the pathway though, even with True trying to squeeze to one side.
From the upper tunnel, an angry shout can be heard from teh room as one of the men shouts at the dogs to keep teh racket down.
Idrian attempts to oblige the unseen voice and tries to silence the dog.
Composite Longbow
bless, PB Shot, fire into melee
to hit
damage
we're too close to make a good shot with this...., Algus thinks for a split second, seeing the situation. he quickly takes out a vial out of his robe with a clear green fluid.
He takes a sudden dash to make it into a more open area(despite the risk of the dog biting him), moving not unlike Tania when she uses her own spell.
Stupid mutt! Shut up already!
Tania drops her bow and draws her sword as she moves to attack the canine pest. She simply swings the sword down with both hands, invoking her arcane power to duel the blow.
Idrian rapidly nocks an arrow and fires at the hound, barely missing the creature as he avoids strking True as well. His curse is cut short as a figure straks past him, moving with magically enhanced speed that even manages to catch the vicious dog off guard.
Algus can hear the snap of teeth behind his heel as he rushes deep into the caverm smiling as his fortune holds.
Tania then takes advntage of teh animals distracted state, rushing in and plunging her sword into the animals flank. With a painful yelp it drops to floor, blood pumping from the deep wound her sword has made in its chest cavity.
The door to the upper cavern is pulled open as a young man sticks his head out and shouts "By Pharasma, I'll come and kick some sense into you two...". The sentence trails off as the youngest creedy boy suddenly realises why the dogs have been making such a racket. "Jonas! We've been found"
Map link for round 2
True runs forwards twenty feet and draws her sword in readiness for an honourable fight between good and evil...for once.
"Out with no weapons, Creedy's, or face justice for your crimes!"
Jo'no tries to peak above everyones's heads to see what is going on and shrugs. Jo'no quickly considers his limited spell options available and then sighs. Jo'nn advances forward hastily.
Tania keeps her movement forward as she sprints to the door in the hope that someone will get to it before it shuts. "Idrian, pincushion the boy if he moves!"
Idrian moves to P13 (or where he can get a clear shot) and fires at him. He aims for the boy's leg, trying not to hit anything vital.
Composite Longbow: to hit
Composite Longbow: damage
Realizing that the Creedy's had finally caught on of what was going on, Algus makes a quick dash to support Tania on the attack.
"Surrender and we'll let you live!!" he says, as loud as he can with a strained voice, slightly hoarse voice. looking straight in the eye of the young gang member. hopefully, the unnaturally fast movement and outlandish appearance will be enough to let them surrender, he thinks.
Feldspar returns his crossbow to his belt and steps forward, reaching for his warhammer as he moves.
"You do not want to fight us, lad. Drop your weapons and raise your arms where we can see them. If you surrender I vow before Torag that no harm will come to you from our company. If you choose to resist, however, I cannot vouch for your safety." He speaks calmly yet assertively doing his best to present the young man with a better alternative to violence.
The group exploded into action, realising that if the door closed then getting those boys out would be damn near impossible without some bloodshed.
Half of them dashed forwards, trying to close the gap as soon as possible, while Idrian took careful aim and fired a grazing shot past the boys shoulder. The arrow flew true, slicing through the meat of the arm and leaving a nasty cut without being lethal.
Screaming in pain, and somehwat confused at the mixed messages and shouting he heard from the strangers, the young thief fell back into the cave shouting "Desna's T%*# Jona's, the bastards shot me! Oh hells, I'm bleeding!"
There is a sound of funiture being pushed over and a deep voice that some of them recognise as the eldest Creedy boy comes from the room
"Come and get us you bastards, we'll not be hanged like our Da!"
Edit -
Algus, standing at the top of the slope and fully in the doorway watches as the youngest man stumbles and skids his way back in fright
His eyes widen as he sees two older men deeper in the room. One of them stands and tips the big table they were eating at over completely, while the second one snatches up a loaded crossbow and points it threatiningly at Algus. The alchemist notes there are two more readied weapons leaning against the back wall as well. The man with the sword is obvioulsy Jonas and he yells to everyone
"Come and get us you bastards, we'll not be hanged like our Da!"
Tania stays in position, hugging the wall for cover. "Look, all we want is information. If you talk, we won't need to bring you in! Simply tell us who hired you to mess up the Festival!"
Feldspar casts an irritated look at Idrian. "So much for avoiding bloodshed," he grumbles.
He moves forward some more and calls out again. "Our numbers are far greater than your own. Do not be foolish! Lower your arms before someone gets hurt!"
To the others in his group, he growls, "Do not harm them!" Realizing that he still holds his warhammer, he hastily returns it to his belt, holding his empty hands up in the direction of the boys.
True opens her mouth to correct Tania, then thinks better of it and waits for a response from the Creedys.
Algus puts away his own Crossbow in response to the Feldspar's words, and prepares to back away from the door. he's not entirely defenseless, however, as he can simply just throw an explosive at them if they turn too hostile. He faces the eldest of the Creedys and raising his hands to show he's unarmed.
"Listen here, friend.", Algus says with his serene, unnerving tone, before stepping back. "Like Tania said, we're here for answers and only answers. I'm not a bounty hunter or anything of the sort...but many people died in that raid. you probably were not aware of just what would happen...but if you were, then this'll go a whole lot worse if you persist on hiding."
"so....tell us, would you kindly? before we resort to...more lethal methods.", He looks at the eldest straight in the eye, attempting to end the situation without having to blow them up.
Idrian is surprised that the others seem to want to talk to the Creedy's. He prepares his next arrow and aims it, but does not fire. He figures to give them a chance to end this situation without further bloodshed.
Move to get line of site to the room and Ready action to fire at the Creedy's if one of them or one of us takes offensive action.
With Algus backing away and the others calling for a halt to the violence, the Creedy boys seem to take stock of the situation. For a brief moment there is some discussion, muffled and interspersed with the groans of pain from the youngest boy. Eventually Jonas calls from the room
"Alright, we're willin' to co-operate and give you a name. You gotta give us the chance to get outta the region once we done so though. He's connected, and we'll be dead by the rope or by the knife either way if we stay. What assurances can you give us you're tellin' the truth?"
"You get the same assurance that the name you give us will be good."
True uses the question as a moment to pull off her back her shield as she answers, "Mr Creedy, I promise that if you do not give me that name, then you will not leave this cave without a fight. By my honour as a knight of Iomedae I give you a chance to help our inquiries."
True walks forwards twenty feet after that, "Well?" It is plain as the nose on her face that she does not lie, embellish or make deals where the law is concerned.
After a name is provided, Jono will use his staff's power to cast an unprepared spell. Jono will cast Resistance on the Creedy that offers up the name.
"I have just cast a locate spell which will allow us to find you should you be lying to us. If you have not provided us with the correct name, I suggest now that you do."