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Jaliera

She had already confirmed to Zhu that she didn't think she could use the fear stone before she went into the tunnel. She also took a look at the note to see if she could read it. She had a feeling that she might be able to.

"Makes you wonder who locked it on this side if the dwarf escaped down here?"

Zhu

As the others are examining the note she moves to the trap door. "I expect he left this way, dropped the note, maybe in a hurry, and someone else locked it behind him. Probably Mistress Zoar. I would be shocked if she not only didn't know this tunnel is here but if she isn't actively using it for smuggling." Moving to the bar, she tries to slide it across and open the door.

(OOC - Gypsy - Why do you think you can't use the Fear Stone? Jaliera is an Arcane Trickster and Fear is an Illusion, so she can cast it. Doesn't matter if that spell is too high level for her now. That's the point. Using a higher level effect from an item is allowed. If you don't want it, that's fine.)

[OOC Thought Aqua said she couldn't? If she can, be happy to take it. What you said made sense. ]

<Bern>

"Maybe someone that didn't want folks from down there coming up here", he offered.

I defer to expert DMs here. I was trying to use the "standard rule" here and they know better all the ins and outs of it.

(OOC - As you stated, Aqua, if the spell is among the list of spells she could cast at some point then she should be able to use it. Arcane Tricksters can cast Illusions. It is the same as a 1st level Wizard who finds a Wand of Fireballs. He can use it even though he can't cast Fireball for some time yet.)

Pavel

Tired of waiting for Zhu and Bern to get back, he follows their trail down. Overhearing them he says. "I can speak Orcish."

[[ My post is 4 above yours <weg> ]]

DM

Pavel joins those who are looking at the note and when Pavel sees it he knows that he would have to use magic to read it.

OOC: He doesn't speak orcish but he does have comprehend languages as a ritual, which will take ten minutes.

I think many more PC's may have followed Rory. It's not clear from the thread who did or didn't. Where are you reading it?

DM

Since there's been a lot of OOC chatter, this is just a quick rehash of where I think people are:

1. Some number of the party, at least Zhu, Sindar, Jaliera, and Pavel, have followed Rory to find the secret tunnel. We're kind of going slow to allow anyone else to accompany if desired (just do a catch-up post), or you can stay in the common room and drink and wait for everyone to return. Someone(s) will have to escort Rory home but that's just slice-of-life flavor.
2. There's a door out, and evidence that someone "inside" has to let people/creatures in and lock up after people/creatures go out. It's highly likely Tamalin is aware of this, but unlikely it's widely known. If you look at the map of Calling Horns you can see where it exits. This is for your own use (or non-use) as you see fit.
3. Deciphering the note requires someone who reads Orcish (you could probably find an Orc in the tavern tomorrow morning) or can cast Comprehend Languages (which Pavel can). You could do this down here in the tunnel or go back to a room, or anything. DOn't mean to rush roleplay at all, please take your time, but this is kind of the one last plot point you need before the parties split, so let's not get overly distracted.

Pavel

"OK speak is a stretch. Give me a little bit of time and I should be able to translate it. Here let me see the note."

Once given the note he will cast the spell.

Davroar

He did not feel like walking anywhere else tonight over than his bed. Watching Jaliera head off with the others following the kid, Davroar will wait for Jaliera in the common room just in case something comes up.

[OOC Jaliera will take the fear stone, thanks! ]

Zindra

She decided to let the small contingent head off with Rory. She stayed with Davroar in the common room. She nursed her drink as they continued to chat about what they must do next.

DM
Pavel stays in the tunnel with the others and casts his spell. It takes a while as he sets up the components, a bit of soot and some salt, around the note. It was a task that required some patience as each salt crystal and speck of soot needed to be placed just so before he began to utter the arcane words and syllables needed to enable the translation. Soon enough he felt the connection from his fingers to the paper and the words scribbled on the note became clear:

Arus

He'd stayed in the common room, listening to the general banter and chit-chat. A secret tunnel isn't likely to be commodious so the less bodies in it the better.

Zhu

Knowing it will take Pavel a few minutes to cast the ritual, she spends the time looking around the tunnel and the immediate area outside the trap door to see if there is anything else of note.

DM

There's nothing really of note outside the trap door other than the fact that it's outside the town walls.

In short, this tunnel is a way to go in and out of the town without passing by the guards. It could prove useful for certain secretive types of individuals, enough so that perhaps coin likely changed hands to permit using it.

Aubric

Aubric followed the group as far as the tunnel entrance, but hung out in the kitchen area with Rory, as he'd promised the boy's mother to get him home safely.

Pavel

"The note was a simple message about a weapon sale. Literally it says 'Weapon sale near Olstin Hold. Dwarf has magic to kill giants,' he asks as the words become clear to him. Not taking his hands off the parchment he looks at the rest of the ones that came down.

"Speaking of which way is Olstin Hold from here? Doesn't that cleric have a map? And that part about the dwarf having something that can kill Giants. I thought those two were working with the giants."

<Bern>

"Or ... maybe ... they found some giants that are against the others", he offered.

Zhu

"Or the dwarf mentioned is not the dwarf we are following. Could be the dwarven smith here in town who is supposed to be able to make magic weapons? We should at least check him out before we go, plus make a quick stop at the magic shop and see if there's anything there we want to stock up on before we leave."

Pavel

"Both are fine places to look into before the groups head out. Still want to try using the doppelganger against them? Let Bern take charge of the questioning. Us be his minions?""