Get Ettan! (Afina and Jaela, 88 days left)

[Ebiris]

A trap? Certainly he doesn't look like one of Ettan's foaming mad ragers.

Also he can see them despite their not inconsiderable efforts at stealth, so he's clearly not someone to be trifled with. 'No sign of any of Ettan's forces, but someone with the look of an assassin was waiting for us. Retreating in your direction,' she sends to Jaela, messaging to Master to follow as she withdraws. See if he follows them.

[Corwin]

'Adancing,' Jaela responds, starting to move in ahead.

[Anastasia]

As the party begins to move, Afina can see the figure makes no effort to move ahead. He watches the four of you but does nothing else.

[Ebiris]

Can I clarify something? Afina and Master went ahead to the big lava pit/tunnel area under stealth while Simmer and Jaela hung back near where we gated in several hundred feet away from Blackhearth itself.

You've said that he's looking at 'the party' and 'the four of you'. Has he been looking at Jaela and Simmer who aren't hiding but shouldn't be in line of sight to anyone who's in Blackhearth (I'm not sure if he's standing down on the lava or floating in the air at ground level in the middle of the crevasse, the latter of which would give him sightlines on those two), or has he been looking at Afina and the Master?

[Anastasia]

That's a very good point. He's looking at Jaela's group then.

[Ebiris]

okay, that changes Afina's reaction then. I'll reline after work rather than phoneposting it though.

[Ebiris]

Okay, strike Afina's earlier line about retreating.

A trap? Certainly he doesn't look like one of Ettan's foaming mad ragers.

'There's no sign of any guards outside the tunnels, just one invisible individual hovering above the pit itself,' Afina sends telepathically to the others. 'Has the look of an assassin, he's spotted Jaela and Simmer. Don't give away that you're aware of his presence yet? I'm going to see if anyone's in the tunnels, this feels like a trap to me.'

Then with all her arts of stealth, Afina drops down the side of Blackhearth where her blindsight can penetrate into the tunnels, keeping a metaphorical 'eye' on the human-looking figure via her all-around vision as she does so.

[Anastasia]

Waiting a sec on Jaela in case that changes her action or prompts anything.

[Corwin]

Let's reline, sure!

'We'll advance in the general direction of the tunnels,' Jaela thinks to her allies. 'If he strikes at us, we'll play our part as the distraction.'

If this enemy doesn't realize they have knowledge of him, he might well allow them to get within 60ft and in range of her own blindsight.

[Anastasia]

Afina and the Master slip down the sides, the gray figure making no action to them.

The immediate gap is empty, barren, blasted from the previous battle. You shudder as another scream's memory echos through you, an urge to be ill rising in your stomach, up your throat.

The tunnels to the sides are empty, but not all. Several of the deeper ones have creatures stationed - large ones, generally blocking the way.

Meanwhile, Jaela advances to towards the tunnels. You notice you can feel him with your blindsight when you come in range.

[Ebiris]

'Getting a sense of some guards down a few of the tunnels, perhaps,' Afina relays. 'Lookout is still just watching you two, probably in telepathic contact with someone. We're going to sneak down the tunnels, hopefully find Ettan. You may as well begin your diversion since if you wait around it'll only look suspicious.'

Afina does have hide in plain sight to help in getting past any blockers without notice.

[Corwin]

'Launching attack,' Jaela sends back. 'Simmer, go half a second after me. Follow my aim.'

As she gets within 120ft, Invisibility Purge seeks to break down any forms of invisibility, while Moonlight Revelation greatly reduces any attempts at hiding while attempting to dispel any illusions in Jaela's way!

If this all fails, I'll launch the attack from 60ft via blindsight. Otherwise, as soon as he's revealed.

[Anastasia]

Make a dispel check, Jaela.

[Corwin]

[21:25] <@Siri> roll 1d20+40
[21:25] <Rei-chan> Siri rolled : 1d20+40 --> [ 1d20=14 ]{54}

[Corwin]

Since I expect it via my spell, do we get to surprise round him if it works?