New Beginnings

After some discussion, I was accepted as a replacement for the human. The group was tired and wanted to get some extended rest. I took it upon myself to get a better feel for the city's climate. Ive spent my life being unseen, unnoticed. Being a gnome has helped in this endeavor. Time has taught me how to blend in, either with disguise, or just being perceptive from the shadows.
 
I've tried to ply my trade for the betterment of the community. However, my profession sometimes doesn't net positive results. Currently, the city of Praag is about to besieged by an Army of Chaos Forces. This group I have joined has been tasked with finding a powerful item of magic to use to charge the defenses. A Runestone.
 
In an attempt to garner more information, I head out at evening mealtime. Slipping through the war-torn alleys of Praag under cover of night, I use my ability to track a group of suspicious citizens unnoticed, their whispers muffled beneath the wind. With my Disguise Kit, I altered my appearance to resemble a weary refugee, gaining access to a makeshift soup line where strange conversations flowed more freely.
 
Using Investigation skills, she noted an irregular pattern in supply deliveries—barrels stamped with a forge's mark that hadn’t operated since the first wave of daemonic incursion. Following that thread, I tracked the shipment trail to a boarded-up tannery and eavesdropped on a cultist meeting, their voices cloaked in vague invocations and metaphor. No names were spoken, but one phrase chilled me to my spine: “Our ally in the Council keeps the patrols blind.” Whoever they were—they held enough power to manipulate the city’s defenses unnoticed. With Insight, I read between their words, sensing their fear behind their fervor. Some of them weren’t true believers. And that left me wondering—how far up did the rot reach, and how many more wore masks even thicker than mine?
 
It isn't unusual for infiltration to be in the ranks of leadership. Many wars are won before the first charge is uttered. Unfortunately, the information is nothing more then here say. If I attempted to address the council, I would be dismissed, if not killed outright. No, I need to bring proof. This will take more investigation, insight and subterfuge, all far more dangerous then casual observance.
 
I return to the party where they are resting. Some of them begin to stir. I settle down to catch a few winks myself.
 
We return to the catacombs of the city. The Dragonborn, not sure of his name yet, I have heard him call himself Jimbog, and Kemurial calls him Rory. Jimbog was the party trailblazer before I arrive. I watched him carefully, and he seems to lack any skill or insight on how to do his job. In the first hallway, a definite pattern of tripped traps was blatantly obvious, and he unknowingly tripped another. I asked if he wished me to do the trailblazing, but I think I offended him.
 
Kemurial directed me to do the trailblazing. Jimbog reluctantly conceded the duties. I'm not sure he could survive more of his trap finding process. I believe I impressed my new party. I must have found 5-10 traps in the short time I looked.
 
Using intel they obtained prior to me joining, we arrive at a room with 3 golems. They appear to be guarding a glowing emerald like gem. Could this be the Runestone? If so, is it the power source of the Golems? I suggest I stealth inside, and they draw the golems to the door. This will allow me to take the gem and possibly power down the golems. We all agree a rolled coin would be the signal.
 
I get into position, roll the coin, and Jimbog charges in pinning the golems at the gem. WHAT THE HELL!!!!! Completely opposite what we talked about. Now, I have to obtain the gem with the golems standing right there! Jimbog and Kemurial handle the golems, but not without taking some substantial hits. The Drow, peppers them with transmuted acid bolts.
 
I am able to to get to the gem. I get it in a sack and get behind the dais it stands on. The largest golem immediately turns and attacks me firing fire bolts from his hands at nearly point blank range. It is just dumb luck that one of the bolts hits the arm of the dais rather then my face. I am beginning to understand why the human quit the group if this is what constantly happens.
 
Through perseverance, we triumph over the machines. We obtain the gem, but are not sure if it is what we are looking for. Heading down the hall, we find coffins. Jimbog tells of previous encounters like this in that they are all trapped and undead occupied. I check the first, and it is trapped. I remove the trap and step back. Jimbog opens the coffin, and a beholder Zombie comes out. To make matters worse, 2 Banshees rise out of the other sarcophagus's! Jimbog, Rory, whatever his name is freaked at the Banshees scream. Their hit and run tactics could have been damaging, but I nailed one right between the eyes and they both disappeared.
 
We continued down the hallway to a set of double doors. No traps, but no locks either. Not sure how to gain entry here. Probably a key somewhere in the catacombs, but they haven't found it yet. Continuing further, we come across an elf stealing another green glowing gem. The conversation between she and Jimbog. A meeting table is in the center of this room and Jimbog and the Female Elf are circling it. I cannot let he leave with potentially the item we need, so I take a shot, and miss horribly. Serves me right for splitting my attention between Jimbog and my target. Once the shot releases, she scampers away, and she gets more then 100 feet!!! Long jumps, sprints allows her to get to the corner of the hall by the Sarcophagi. I am no slouch in movement either, and I catch an angle and let a bolt fly, catching her in the hip. She let out a yell of pain. This limited her movement allowing Jimbog to catch her. He knocked her unconscious and we were able to relieve her of the gem, and a few other items. We discover her boots were the key to her expert mobility, or should I say, my boots.
 
We decide to take a short respite as the gate keepers here at the catacombs remove her for questioning. This takes me full circle in wondering, is the person on the council her employer, and will allowing them to question her be fruitless.
 
Time is marching on, and so are the armies. Time is short, and we must move. Between the mole on the council and armies at the gates, Praag's future is shaky.