Really? You want tae’ talk to the troglodytes? - said Dommer, incredulous. In his several decades of life, he never had much dialog with this kind of creature... and they particularly remind him too much of odious Orcs and goblins.
I believe there is time and place fah’ negotiation... And ‘tis not one of such. - the Dwarf’s good heart was all for mercy, but his ancestral enmity with certain dark dwelling creatures was aloud.
"My sword is best negotiator! Hahaha!"
Arthur thinks a moment, then speaks again, "Is there a rise nearby? We could station those of us who use bows atop it, then several of us could draw them out to the entrance and restrict how many can get to us at a time, creating a shooting gallery for the bow users to shoot the fish, or lizards, in a proverbial barrel."
He frowns, then stroking his chin adds, "Assuming, of course, that there is only a single entrance."
You manage to take down the camp in the morning and by early afternoon, everyone is ready to leave. The refugees, bearing most of the heavy stuff like poles, tents, tools, set out at a very slow pace behind you.
About an hour later, about midway to the caves, Jestyn puts a trail marker for the refugees. The large group will wait there for your return after you are done in the caves. Another 75 min is all that's needed to close the remainder of the distance. Recognizing the familiar area from his trip yesterday, Jestyn motion for everyone to be quiet, and instructs everyone to stay behind except Dommer and Grenwold.
The stealthy trio (and their very stealthy elk mascot) advance through the trees slowly and quietly, and finally gain view on the entrance of the caves through the trees. The deep natural caverns appear to run beneath a tree-covered ridge, with a double entrance at the base of the ridge, in a low bowl area that's sandy. The low and wide entrance is screened by hanging roots, but a few moments peering in the direction shown to you by Jestyn is all that's required to spot it.
A garden of tall mushrooms, the largest of which appear to be around 4 feet tall, grow about a dozen feet before the sandy entrance under the shade of the trees overhanging from the ridge.
Jestyn recognizes these as shrieker mushrooms: they make an insane amount of noise when anything larger than a cat gets within 10' of them or when light shines on them.
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"We might want to wait a while, those mushrooms are called Shrikers and if you get close or have a light, they start making a racket. Now, the sun will set in two hours and they will go off when the sunlight hits them. We will want to plug our ears but since it happens at the same time, the Trogs will expect it but not us coming in. At least it will help cover our entrance and the noise from the less stealthy members of the party." Jestyn said, trying to estimate how long the sunset will shine on the patch of mushrooms.
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Grenwold nods, acquiescing. "So it shall be."
He follows Jestyn along, spurring Ringo into action. The elk with enormous horns has a keen glint of intelligence in his eyes, and seems to understand at least part of what everyone's saying, though he tends not to follow other's orders.
When Jestyn approaches, Gren encourages him to take point, and Gren and Ringo act as bodyguards, to ensure he doesn't get ambushed.
Gren waits silently with Ringo, watching Jestyn, and hoping the elf successfully identified the mushrooms.
When they begin to return, he silently follows with Ringo, the graceful elk tiptoing through the forest with barely a sound.
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Ringo snuffs quietly, breathing in the air, watching for danger.
When Herman intimidates Fizzlewump, Grenwold approaches where the frog fell, and retrieves it, petting it, ”please do not throw animals, Herman.”
”Tell your faerie friend not to put them in my pack then,” Herman mutters crossly. He keeps a suspicious eye on Fizzlewump as they wait for the scouts’ return.
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Jestyn headed back with the others to let the second group know what the plan was.
When they arrive, Jestyn starts drawing a map in the dirt to show the group the layout. "We need to be careful. These guys are smart and have fungi called "Shriekers" at the cave entrance to serve as an alarm for any one coming in. If they raised them that way, then there is someone skilled in dealing with the mushrooms and need to keep an eye out for them." he said, laying out the plan of action.
Dommer heads back with the others, and waits as Jestyn lays off on the scouted details.
I got no spells. Maybe we can try to expertly 'void 'em? 'Da 'shrooms? - said Dommer, not too much of an expert himself, but hoping someone could guide the group in this matter.
[...]Jestyn said, trying to estimate how long the sunset will shine on the patch of mushrooms.
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"Anyone know a silence spell?"
"I do know the magics for that sort of thing," Herman answers crossly. "A pity I did not prepare it for today, or I would already be rid of your ceaseless prattling."
Time flies as the heroes huddle in some bushes hundreds of feet from the entrance, keeping their conversation hushed not to attract attention. Jestyn sits quietly in a tree closer to the entrance, watching the entrance and keeping tabs on any troglodytes coming and going.
After a few hours he sees the rays of the sun pierce at an angle through the tree trunks as it descends to the west and under the canopy. The rays of the sun are getting close to the sandy area, inching forward steadily.
Jestyn descends from his perch gather his friends at a location closer to the entrance to the northwest. (See Map)
The sun rays keep getting closer, and closer...
...suddenly the patch of shriekers blare an impossibly loud sound. Birds fly off from their perch; game springs out of hiding and run away... however no troglodytes care to come out and check on this recurring daily event. You think this impossibly annoying sound will last for a good five minutes.
Luke covers his ears and begins to whisper. "What now, are we waiting here or what?"
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"Anyone know a silence spell?""I do know the magics for that sort of thing," Herman answers crossly. "A pity I did not prepare it for today, or I would already be rid of your ceaseless prattling."
"Prattling? Oh you want me to be quiet? That's all you had to say was be quiet. I know when to stop talking. Some people thing that gnomes get excited and talk a lot." Fizzle suddenly pinches his fingers and runs them over his mouth. He then bends down and whispers to his badger.
"Rah Rah rah..." Biter nuzzles the dirt looking for worms.
"well Luke," Arthur sighs, "I suppose this is the part where we charge in and kill them all as quickly as possible?"
"I hope so!"
Jestyn disappears around the entrance, motioning for the group to follow. The group appears to hesitate and remains indecisive.
Holding his halberd at the ready, Arthur dashes as quietly as he can up to the opposite side just past the entrance a few steps back from Jetsyn.
Being quiet doesn't seem to be an issue with the shriekers going full tilt and sounding off in the forest in a two miles radius.
Dommer doesn't hesitate, simply moving towards the cave to accompany Jestyn and Arthur. He pulls his bow and keeps it ready to shoot as he goes - since the surprise element is already gone.
Seeing what is going on Luke moves straight to the caves entrance. He activates his Ioun Torch and moves ahead of all others.
Grateful for the shrieking that drowns out Fizzlewump’s inane chatter, Herman follows the other so-called “saviors”. ”Don’t bunch up!” he hisses, though his own voice is likewise drowned out. ”Don’t let them find you in one place!”
As soon as Luke turns on his ioun torch the cave gets illuminated in sparkling reflections with the surrounding crystals embedded in the walls. He also disturbs a troglodyte from whatever it was doing. The trog screams something in a weird language but most of it is drowned out by the shriekers outside.
Round 1 Init - Bold may go
Dommer
Jestyn
Arthur
Troglodyte
Herman
Luke
Fizzle
As Jestyn advances towards the trog, an overpowering stench seizes his nose, hitting him like a truck... err... horse and cart! :)
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Dommer steps forward and closes his eyes, concentrating. He tights his hands and takes a deep breath, and as his chi seems to align, his skin hardens.
Jestyn holds his breath and holds steady through the tears welling up in his eyes. His arrow flies true, and takes the trog right in the middle of the chest. The creature collapses to the ground, convulsing.
Dommer hardens his skin by pure force of will!
Round 1 Init - Bold may go
Jestyn
Dommer
Arthur
Troglodyte [dying]
Herman
Luke
Fizzle
Seeing the Troglodyte just out of reach, Arthur advances and braces his halberd for a charge.
The others see a good opening to move in, and Grenwold and Ringo follow. They get in behind Dommer, and Gren nods at the others, looking stronger.
Double move - move in
Swift - activate bull focus on Grenwold (+2 strength)
Ringo tries to shake off the terrible smell.
Seeing the Troglodyte just out of reach, Arthur advances and braces his halberd for a charge.
[Dice=Fort Save]1d20+4
** spoiler omitted **