Well, now, that is interesting... I should go tell the others...
Gathien gets ready to sneak back when a thought strikes him, I wonder if there are any footprints to give me an idea who may live within?
He takes a moment to look for tracks before returning to the group to make his report, "Those leaves are covering up worked wooden planks and hiding a cave entrance... That's assuredly not the work of animals. I tried to peer past the leaves and planks, but it was dark inside the cave -- although most things that would choose to live in that kind of things probably see better in the dark than halflings..."
He smiles a little and chuckles as he considers the audience, "..or humans, for that matter. In any case, there is also a strange patch of leaves immediately before the doorway which gave me a bit of a queer feeling -- I think they might be hiding a pit or other nasty surprise, but I have no evidence of them being dangerous other than the feeling they gave me...I debated taking the time to look more carefully, but thought the risk might be too great."
Kragath listens intently to Gathien's report. "Well, we need to know what this cave is, one way or another. I say we go get a closer look."
Jonas nods at Kragath, "I think so too, although I feel like this may not be the Kobold's den. I would expect it to be a little more....disorganized....and I would expect them to have some guards or scouts out. "
"Well then, sooner started sooner finished." Rorgrym begins moving down the hillside. Knowing that the party is likely to make noise going down, Rorgrym makes no attempt at stealth.
Peregrine remained silent for a moment as he weighed the matter in his mind before finally speaking. "Given out performance yesterday it is unlikely that we will be able to approach stealthily as a group, meaning we're unlikely to take whatever may lie in that cave by surprise, we probably would not even be able to enter without being known, assuming we aren't already. Regardless being found in someone's home, such as it is, is likely to be met with hostility. Perhaps we should consider calling them out to parlay, or just laying in wait for a while to see if anyone or anything comes and goes."
You approach the overgrowth and hidden door together. There is still only silence in the air, bar the sound from the rustling grass beneath your feet and the sound of your breathing...
Gathien whispers as the group makes its way forward, "It might be best to take a somewhat combined approach, which is to say, have some of us approach openly to parley, while the rest remain hidden -- as a reserve of sorts... Just as a precaution against cave inhabitants that may act friendly but be anything but."
He then points to the leaves which gave him a bad feeling earlier, "Also, avoid stepping there. I don't trust that pile, it just seems out of place."
Jonas leaves Maelstrom untethered a few hundred feet from the strange overgrowth. Giving Gathien a chance to hide, Jonas says quietly "I don't think that anyone else should hide. Caution is good, but we don't want to appear dishonest if someone see's others hiding."
Jonas then approaches the overgrowth slowly. As he approaches he is careful to avoid the spot that Gaithen pointed out, to keep himself in the open, and to keep his hands at his sides and open. He calls out loudly,
Jonas waits for a few minutes, but if there is no answer he turns to Peregrine and whispers,"Could you translate that into whatever those kobolds were speaking before?"
Rorgrym keeps his eyes on the surrounding area just in case there are things lurking by that aren't in the cave.
Kragath stands vigilantly as well, simultaneously trying to appear intimidating and peaceful.
Even as Jonas followed his suggestion Peregrine could not help but feel a twinge of nerves as his voice rang out. Still when the young Medvyed made his request Peregrine nodded his assent, then called out loudly in a guttural language rich with sibilant accents.
Greetings to those that dwell within. Can you hear us? It is our wish to speak with you.
Gathien remains hidden, looking for any signs of danger... especially from the leaf-patch. Well, whatever it is knows we're here... and may be setting up their ambush right now... Still, they seem to be assuming it's kobolds when it could be anything, really.
As you all gather around the overgrowth, Peregrine speaks the Draconic tongue - though you wait for several minutes without any response...
Jonas shrugs and looks around at the others. He walks over to the door, avoiding the pile of leaves. "I'm just going to try to open this, unless anyone has a better idea?" He pauses and waits for any suggestions.
Kragath odd at Jonas, "Sounds good to me Ser Medvyed. I suggest preparing any defensive measures before we go in. I'll be right with you."
Kragath pulls his shield from his back and steps up to the entrance to see better what he is dealing with, then moves in.
Gathien readies his sling-staff for covering fire as he sees them approaching the door, nodding happily when Kragath suggests a light source. Indeed, some of us can't see down there very well.., he thinks, and then shudders as a remembered snippet of his dream assaults him, thinking of when his sight was burned away by the flames within him.
He blinks a few times, if only to prove to himself his vision is normal. I must be cursed... now that I'm starting to be accepted as a warrior, I'm losing my mind.
Rorgrym will light a torch and move in just behind Jonas and Kragath. He'll hold his trident in his other hand, sacrificing the use of his shield.
Ever deliberate and cautious, Peregrine considered their recent encounters with the fey, and the possibilities of illusory magics. Weaving a simple divination he opened his perceptions to the magical auras around him surveying the entrance as they approached.
Jonas nods at the others as he sees them prepare. He pulls his sword and tests the grip for a moment before reaching for the door cautiously.He turns his head to Kragath and smiles, "Here we go."
The great planks form the strangest door, yet as Jonas reaches for it it creaks open - too loudly, in fact - and the great darkness meets you. The torch lights up the entrance, the narrow passageway rich with moss. The passageway is otherwise devoid of life. As you enter, you can see a strangely-coloured streak of rock above you...
The area is also devoid of magic - or you cannot sense any aurae, at the least.
The strange colour is gold - you are certain of it...
Rogrym glances momentarily at the rock, doesn't recognise it, and it quickly fades from his thoughts as he continues to peer into the darkness.
Peregrine looked up at the rock overhead as they stepped into the cave, didn't note anything interesting, the more immediate idea of potential threats dominating his thinking.
Kragath moves into the door, his shield raised against any potential threats. "Be on the alert, men. We know not what resides in this cave, and it may not take kindly to our intrusion."
When nothing reveals itself imeediately in the cave, Gathien steps out of hiding and rejoins the group, whispering, "Someone covered this up and hid it... We need to figure out why... If it's not something's lair, maybe it's a supply cache?"
Jonas nods at both Gathien and Kragath. Well if the halfling doesn't see anything wrong. Jonas takes a step forward into the entrance. "That door seemed to leap from my hand, so keep an eye out for our trickster friend." If the others follow him in, then Jonas moves forward until he sees ot hears something of note.
Rorgrym continues to follow holding the torch up high so everyone can see as well as possible.
Peregrine follows Jonas at a short distance.