Loth frowns in agreement. "Yeah, I don't feel comfortable attacking them just like that... We could try to see if we can find out some more or play it safe and regroup, what do you think?"
Loth frowns in agreement. "Yeah, I don't feel comfortable attacking them just like that... We could try to see if we can find out some more or play it safe and regroup, what do you think?"
There is another level above you. That staircase is there. Do with that as you will.
Tarphrex puts a talon to his mouth and waits, barely peeking around the corner while the workers (hopefully) fall back into the rhythm of their tasks. After what feels like a suitable wait, he tries to quietly slip around to the other stairs.
It takes a few minutes, but that worker does indded turn back to the work at hand. ...
(presuming Loth goes as well, if he doesn't, just say it is so and so it shall be)
... As you round the corner, one of the workers shouts out, "I told you I saw something moving!" A second worker is already looking your direction, the other two quickly catch you as well.
Before the workers can take any actions, what do you do?
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Tarphrex rewards the observant fellow with a burst of sparkly mica and ducks out of sight to where Loth was waiting to proceed. He hisses, ”Stay with Tarphrex! Tarphrex will help hide!” and moves down the stairs.
Loth indeed went as well, and will stick close to Tarphrex down the stairs as the two of them run... but not before being a bit surprised at the glitterdust himself.
"You'll have to teach me that one of these days!"
Whatever is going on up there, Sherman doesn't like the sound of that. He casts a nervous glance at the other "big ones" waiting for their scouts' return.
Yes indeed, the glitterdust can hit the lot....
... and the two in the back stumble, shouting out in surprise. Everyone can hear the group on the floor between reacting with mild alarm at the shouts, stools scraping along the floor and raised voices saying things along the lines of "Everything okay up there?" You all can't see this, but one of them is stareing at the extra glitter floating down from the holes between floors.
But a spell has been cast, albeit one in panic, and the alarm has been raised. Someone is in here blinding people.
SOOOOO....
_____________
Most of you are still down on the ground floor. Tarphrex and Loth are up on the "Second Story" map. Tarphrex, you got the spell off and both of you made it back to the stair well down. The stairs are difficult terrain for Small and smaller creatures.
Those of you on the ground floor, start your turns on the first square of the stairwell labeled "2", counting from there, to represent that you were all wary enough to be ready to rush up the stairs should the need arise.
I'm terribly curious to see what happens next....
Tarphex hisses to Loth, ”Wait!
Sounds like trouble... They need to get out of there. We should do something.
Loth immediately comes to a standstill when Tarphex instructs him to. "You got a plan?"
Whispers, "Tarphrex make Loth disappear again? But sneak up more or flee?"
Loth weighs both options and eventually concludes: "If either of us gets caught now, it'll just be more trouble. Let's get back to the rest and work this out together."
Who knows, maybe with the extra muscle the group can have the workers stand down.
So Loth delays.
Alain, Sherman, Tarphrex, anyone else have an action?
Hearing the commotion from somewhere unseen, the halfling glances to those nearby. He thumbs through several vials before frowning. 'if they're humans...this should help...'
Glancing up to the unknown dangers ahead, he removes the stopper and chugs a dark, shadowy fluid. Nearly gagging, shadows dance across his skin for a moment.
With a quick shake of his head, he draws his bow.
"Should we go in after them or wait here?" he inquires
Sherman peers up, and then looks back at his companions. "I cannot say... Let's wait for a bit more, and then go up if we don't hear of them." he whispers.
But... trouble is brewing. In preparation for the unknown, the reverend casts Protection from evil on himself.
We'll put Alain on delay for the time being.
@Loth and Tarphrex: You hear shouts of surprise and dismay. "UH! What is this stuff?" and Help! I can't see!" being the most common.
The group on the floor between (the ones that had been playing cards) are all moving towards the stairs.
But then one of them shouts, the cry of "THIEVES!" echoing through the building. The works don't look happy.
Dots manages to clear their vision, Dash is still unable to see.
That's my turn. What do you do now?
"They only see Tarphrex. Loth disappear." The kobold casts vanish on the wee rogue. "Now we leave."
Tarphrex heads down the stairs as fast as his scaly legs will carry him .
Having vanished, Loth follows behind Tarphrex, as fast as his legs can take him.
Loth and Tarphrex beat feet down the stairs, passing the card players on the second floor as they're moving towards the stairs themselves. The workers on both floors converge on the stairs, chasing their unknown intruders down the staircases.
For those of you waiting on the scouting mission, your allies have returned, pushing their way through to reach the relative safety of their more martially aligned compatriots. And they are swiftly followed by the workers, who stop on the stairs in a clump when they see the group of you on the ground floor. Whatever you are, you certainly don't look like thieves. Especially not with Alain there.
The workers mill for a brief second, before one of them steps forward a half-step. He speaks loudly to be heard over the machinery below you all, "This place is dangerous. You should leave. Now."
Apologies for our companions sneaking about but we're in the process of investigations and we did not know what to expect. We'll need to continue investigation His tone is... Firm, he's looking around with his detect evil. Scanning individually.
Once he appears again, Loth joins the dialogue. "We can handle a little danger, don't worry. As my friend says, we're here looking for answers that we think we can find here."
He stretches his arm out to the front worker. "Loth Dalveran. My family's recently been in talks to buy this mill from the Seven Brothers."
Though short lived, Quinn breathes a sigh of relief as Master Lith reappears unharmed. Keeping his bow at the ready but pointed down, he eyes the workers.
'Maybe we won't have to fight' he considers, the adrenaline still filling his veins. 'This is definitely not like the stories I've read.'
Hopeful, Quinn waits to see how the opposition receives his companionss' words.
To all inquires and responses, the same answers, "No. The mill is dangerous. You have to leave." The one closest to the front motions towards the doors.
Alain draws his blade, and points it at them Stand down, I am a paladin of Lady Shelyn. Do not stand in the way of the law, you are already walking down the path of darkness
The workers pause for a heartbeat, then turn to rush back up the stairs.
The one who was speaking shouts "DANGER HERE" before following the others.
The kobold hisses, "We follow, yes! Interesting things at top, Tarphrex is sure!"
But he hesitates to lead...
”Well, that didn’t go so smoothly…“ Sherman groans. He looks at Alain, puzzled by his sudden change to hostility.
”Alain, is there something you’d like to share us about these folks? “
They triggered by paladin sense, their souls are marked as black which means corruption
”Bad people?”
Loth frowns. "If that's the case, the odds of them being just hapless innocents caught up in this whole 'Seven Brothers' situation is starting to become more and more unlikely."
He turns to the rest. "What do you say? Wanna climb up and see just what makes this place so 'dangerous'?"
Tarphex nods, slowly and firmly.
Well, it sounds like all 8 of them have fled to at least the 3rd floor, maybe the 4th.
Who wants to lead the way? And what kind of approach are you taking?
At this point I don't think stealth would achieve much. Might as well cast Light on something or light a torch and have the beefy martials take point.
"All right... Bad people, I trust you. So changes are they are part of this... whatever this is."
"Would you like to lead the way, Alain? From all of us, you look the best equipped to handle sudden violence." Sherman asks the paladin. And to make make him even more resilient toward dangers, he casts protection from evil on him.
Seeing his companions come to a census, Quinn nods. The halfling downs another vial of fluid and grips his bow tightly. After a moment, the short man's arms shoot into his side and his legs wither away...
In the blink of an eye the halfling becomes half the size he once was...pocket sized if you will.
"I'll take rear guard" squeaks the tiny bowman.
Loth whistles as he sees Quinn shrink. "You've definitely got some interesting potions with you, huh?"
Loth will follow after Alain and possibly Zenaida, ready to rush in at another time.
Yes, stay close but behind me. Loth, my direct behind. Tarphrex keep next to Sherman Alain steps in, shield and sword drawn fully
Zenaida murmurs a prayer and touches the face of her shield, causing it to shed light before the party as they advance. Readying her longsword, she follows the other holy warrior, ready to protect his flank.
Tarphrex looks at the now-tiny companion with delight. He reaches down to lift the mini-halfling as they climb the stairs.
@Alain (and the rest): You move up the stairs unmolested. The first landing you come to is the one where the workers were playing cards, their game now abandoned. Stacks of wood cover most of the area.
If you move up from there, the machinery level where Tarphrex and Loth were spotted. The cleaning rags lay on the ground, and the room is silent, all sound of boots long since gone. Even the sound of the gears in the basement is faded away.
There is another floor above you. What do you do?
"Oh, light... Yes, of course. Sometimes I forget.. Would you like the spell to be cast on your sword, Loth?" Sherman suddenly snaps out from his daydreaming. Sometimes he just forgets not everyone can see the darkness as he does.
"Yes, that would be great." Loth gladly accepts Sherman's offer.
Loth will, as suggested, stick close to Alain. If someone attacks, Loth should be able to move around and flank 'em.