Episode 2

Now working completely in the dark and trying to maintain perfect silence, the group proceeds carefully to make the move and carry up the cut portal in the ceiling to the third floor room above.

Ryhim moves through the third floor room preliminarily, a scout to clear the way for the others. The heavy door to the south is barred with a hardwood beam from the inside. A full defensive barrier.

The opening to the east is another iron-beam cage door. Closed. Locked. Perhaps Kray has the key. Just beyond on the other side of the cage door is a balcony, an overlook hallway that runs along around the high level. Down below is surely the great central chamber of the palace. Ryhim can see the edges of light from over the rails. A fire must be lit down below on the first floor.

The bronze-bound oak door to the north is the escape route - a door to an exterior balcony. THAT is the key that it is imperative that Kray has. That is the way out.

Thorn is the next one up on the floor ledge. Then Sizhen.

Thorn sets to work. Using the ropes that he tied off to his belt, the brawny warrior begins the hard effort of hauling the heavy treasure-laden bags up from the floor below. One at a time, he pulls them up. Sizhen grabs each carefully when it rises above the ledge. Quietly, cautiously the men work to place the heavy carry off to the side as the others ascend.

Maeriks is having a difficult time climbing the pole. Kray has to tie the rope under the Dannein, as a harness seat so that Thorn can assist him, pulling up as the fat exhausted man tries his best to climb. Thorn is sweating profusely, but works on without complaint, still in silence.

Then Ryhim sees the torchlight coming. Someone is moving through the hallway outside of the cage barrier on the balcony!

Athletics Success

If light from a lantern or torch is cast through the barred door and into the room, everyone is exposed. Ryhim knows he has to make the room invisible.

Grabbing an old tarp draped over a stack of broken furniture, Ryhim quickly loops a torn edge of the fabric over a high hanging sconce on the east wall next to the threshold. In silence, he pulls the tarp taunt and drapes it out to a full hang.

There is no corresponding sconce on the other side, so Ryhim does what he must. He hops on top of an overturned wooden couch frame, balances himself on the decrepit wood, holds his arms as high as he can and presses the other end of the tarp against the east wall on the opposite side.

In barely enough time, Ryhim has pulled up a line-of-sight barrier, hiding the room from view. A decrepit old fabric is the only thing that keeps the room from being bathed in light as the torchbearer approaches the port way on the other side of the cage door.

Ryhim holds his breath and holds completely still, hoping that the others can see his movements as a signal to do the same.

The now glaring light on the other side stops in front of the door. The makeshift tarp barrier glows now in bright orange, soaking up the firelight that casts out upon it only a step or two away. Shadows dance across the room, casting out in long swinging stretches from various debris and obstacles scattered on the floor.

The metal cage door rattles as the patrolman on the other side shakes it, checking to see if the portal will open. The startling sound is nearly enough to stop a man's heart inside of his chest.

"This one locked as well," a voice echoes out. The patrolman's Korvaran Yuouric accent shocking in the silence.

"Here we are again," another voice calls out. This one not only heavier in nature but also louder in volume, as if shouting to carry. "Up here on the third now. There is a balcony walk here."

A short pause, but in the distance an answer from yet another voice. Further away. Over the balcony, down at the first floor below surely. Ryhim can hear it, but it is too quiet and muffled to understand.

Foot steps. Another rattle of the cage. The torchlight gets brighter. The guard must be trying to scan through the bars.

"Covered up with a curtain this one. No telling what's inside, yeah." the guard mutters to his mate.

A slow pause. Ryhim does everything he can to hold position and keep the tarp from moving. Even a tiny shake and all is lost.

In what seems an incredibly long wait, the heavier older voice breaks the silence. "That's all at it here. Nothing else to the end. Back down for us. A pass is all we do now until the Captain arrives."

The torchlight holds position a short while longer. "This place was grand some day ago. These fucking Hesh letting it fall to shit like this..." the younger voice says.

The patrolman is walking away now.

"... sort of a shame I think...." the voice trails off as it disappears.

"I don't give a FUCK..." the heavier voice barks out. But then it too drifts away.

Ryhim finally breathes and lets the tarp fall as his arms give out.

Success Stealth

Ryhim drops down from the rope, landing on the ground without the slightest sound - the longbow instantly off of his shoulder and an arrow notched.

The Sarceran scans into the darkness. There. Off in the distance. The torches are still visible here at ground level. The patrolmen don't seem to be moving at all. So far so good.

Maeriks is down next. The big Dannein steps out of the seat harness of the extra rope and gets to work just as he had been told. The first bag comes down on the other rope. Maeriks keeps very very quiet the whole time. He stacks the bags against the wall, right near a bush.

Thorn's arms and back are tired when he goes over the balcony, but he's still got plenty of strength left to lower himself down. He doesn't take time to get into the harness. Kray and Sizhen need hands free and can begin work on packing up the extra ropes.

From the top vantage point, Kray sees the two fires still holding position out on the northern yard. He moves again to look down the eastern wall of the building. Still no other fires. No way to be completely sure. Maybe they are moving with no light. As good as it is going to get right now though. The Jeresian moves back over to tend the rope as Sizhen prepares to climb over the rail.

"When you get feet on the ground, hear Ryhim's assessment and get us a landmark to track when we move to those outer buildings," Kray says quietly to the Alijanian. "I'll be right behind you."

Sizhen nods as he makes the transition, pressing his feet outward to post perpendicular to the wall structure.

Kray sights below and then turns back again. Checking everything again. Inspecting the rope. Another look at the door. Another scan out into the darkness.

He sees the edge of a softer gray out on the east horizon.

The sun still rises. It will be morning soon.

Required Action, Kray: WIS Perception check. Disadvantage. DC to oppose below.

Perception check. His passive is 18, if it makes a difference.

Kray senses it at the very last moment, but not with enough time to react.

Floating down from the roof awning, as if it appears out of nowhere from the darkness, an unnatural abomination attacks. Kray is assaulted with barbed tentacles, and a bird-like beak tries to snap his head off!

Attack Kray Tentacles.
If Hit, Grappled (DC 15 Escape required as Action).
Also if Hit, Required Action: CON Save DC 11 or be Poisoned.

Attack Kray Beak.

Result and 2nd Order effects: Kray is entangled and wrapped in chord-like barbed tentacles. Before he can stabilize, he is snatched forward, clanging over the balcony and then released to fall headlong to the ground below!

He crashes with a loud thud and crack into a wild shrub bush that partially breaks his fall. His big shield clangs as it is knocked and flung free from his grasp.

Grappled Condition. Movement with victim to pull and release.
Fall damage to Kray

Having eliminated one victim, the floating horror descends upon Sizhen, who has just begun climbing down on the rope.

Finish Movement, adjacent to Sizhen

Players' Club, Roll for Initiative!

Top of Round 1 open for PC Action.

Sizhen is about 25 feet up in the air, scaling down the wall on the rope.

A tentacle monster right on top of him.

Everyone else is on the ground.

Kray starts Prone after fall.

J, since Sizhen is NPC, what I'm shooting for:
Sizhen drops. Scrambles behind Kray so Kray is nearest to Floaty. The idea here is for Kray to present himself as the target, which he will do, jockeying for front position.

Also, for Kray's action, he'll take Dodge. I'm counting on Ryhim to deal out some serious damage.

So gents, I'm thinking after Sizhen clears, we delay and let Floaty come to Kray, then throw some sneak attack damage at it. I think Maeriks has a pole arm, so could strike over Kray.
Kray was also still packing Ivor's Ulathi trident, which Thorn might be able to pull off of Kray and do likewise with reach.

Either way, when the bastard comes at us Kray will be inserting himself between it and the team to soak the attacks.

Not sure it will be worth the -5/+10 on the ranged sneak attack. I'm thinking once its engaged you can get the sneak attack via a flanking maneuver attacking from an angle to the 180 degrees at its rear.

Sizhen is on the brink of being overwhelmed when the floating mass crowds in on him. It is unclear whether it is Kray's suggestion or he is just knocked free, but Sizhen is soon dropping to the ground, pushing the tentacles away with his hands.

Bonus Action: Disengage
Accept Fall damage

Doing his best to roll with the impact, Sizhen limps over to Kray, drawing a throwing knife as he does. When he consolidates with the group, he turns and throws.

Movement
Ranged Attack, dagger. Disadvantage by Range
Hit

The spinning blade is swatted away by a mass of tentacles, but apparently it cuts something. A dull groaning squawk sounds out from the abominable beak.