[h2][center][b]The Cave[/b][/center][/h2][center][@Cyrania][@Dog][@Timemaster][/center]
Cicero nodded to Gwyn, [color=orange]”No doubt. This must be one of their major operations. We must be careful. Those inscriptions don’t seem to be only for show. When we get closer, you may be able to read them.”[/color] He unsaddled from his camel. Fed the creature some provisions and pegged its reigns to the ground so that it couldn’t wander off. [color=orange]”Can’t be too careful with these.”[/color] Then the knight turned to Ashe with an inquisitive look, [color=orange]”Say, you seem like the stealthy type. Would you do us a favor and scout the area more closely? Those fiends are by no means stupid. They have surely placed sentries where we cannot perceive them.”[/color]

[color=teal]”True. No telling where they would be.”[/color] She went up to study the runes, trying her hardest to read them. They were hard to make out well though so she carefully snuck closer.[hider=Sneak Roll]Roll = 1d20+1 = 10 Failure[/hider]The sand shifted her feet. She let out a cry, but quickly stifled it, looking around. No one else had heard that, right? Seeing nothing though, she continued on towards the inscriptions to see what she could read.

“[color=gold]I’ll try my best but can’t promise anything. It’s been a while since I picked pockets through the marketplace.[/color]” quickly replied Ashe with a grin. She remembered her times with the orphans and urchins of the streets and nodded her head gently.[hider=Sneak Roll]Roll = 1d20+2 = 18[/hider]
Cicero watched as the two heroines made their way to the cave entrance. Gwyn, unaccustomed to wilderness stealth, took a more direct route. Meanwhile, Ashe headed from a flank. Hopefully, at least one would remain unseen. Maybe Ashe could give some lessons of her own on the art of stealth.

Ashe was like a living shadow, her body flat on the wall. Closely watching for any light reflection that may give her away and of course, to any sounds that might be made by their enemies. 

“[color=gold]To the side, Freda. Not directly forward. Watch your light and silhouette. Easy does it. [/color]” whispered Ashe to Freda, seeing that she would be discovered if anyone would come in her direction with no issues. 

Freda looked over annoyed. [color=teal]“I can care for myself, thank you very much.”[/color] She answered in a loud whisper, then slightly went to the side, but not by much before stopping before the runes and looking up. Surely she could read these now after some time… 

Freda made her way upon the inscriptions. They were golden within the reddish sands. They made a simple few pictures. An hourglass, cave, and falling sands.[hider=Reading Roll]Roll = 1d20+3 = 19 success[/hider]Rather quickly she could work out what it said. “Here lies the cave of shifting sands. Those who come in must watch the sands. Else their time run out, and those within are trapped forever.” Gwyn frowned. That all seemed rather ominous..[hider=Notice Roll]Roll = 1d20+1 = 3 Failure[/hider]In reading the signs, she didn’t notice anything else around her. Ashe made her way silently nearby Freda, yet not close enough to be spotted together. [hider=Notice]Roll 1d20+1 Fail[/hider] Cicero clenched his teeth in anticipation. He was not exactly built for stealth. Though he could manage if needed.[hider=Notice]1d20 Exceptional Success[/hider]Cicero looked at Manzur for a second, [color=orange]”Hey! There’s demonfolk above!”[/color] He yelled in tandem with Manzur at Gwyneria, [color=orange]”Gwyn!! Above you!!”[/color] Only in his haste, he called his companion by her real name instead of her false one.

Manzur spotted the enemy demonfolk immediately over the archway of the cave aiming bows at Freda.[hider=Notice]1d20 Exceptional Success[/hider]Manzur yells at Freda, “ARCHERS AT ARCHWAY!” Manzur then dashed towards Freda.

Ashevelen was startled by the yells of Manzur and Cicero and very much intrigued by the words of Cicero “Gwyn”. Sounded like a name referring to “Freda” but that was a query for later. Not seeing exactly where the archers were, she cursed herself for missing them but at least she had an idea and it seemed like they didn’t spot her yet. Wishing herself some luck, Ashevelen silently went towards her best guess as to where the archers were. Freda should be able to handle herself for now. 

Gwyndolyn looked up at the calls, [color=teal]“What?”[/color] Two arrows then whizzed from above, heading straight towards her.[hider=Dodge Roll]Roll = 1d20-3= Nat 1, critical failure[/hider]Before she could even react, they struck.[hider=Injury Roll]Roll = 2d100= 95,62 = 157[/hider]One grazed her upper left arm, causing it to singe but still being movable. The other though stabbed through her right foot into the ground, trapping her to the sand. She let out a cry then ducked down, focusing on dislodging the arrow.

Cicero groaned when he saw her almost become a pincushion for arrows. He began sprinting toward the cave with all haste shouting obscenities at the demonfolk archers, [color=orange]”Vile wretches! I’ll skin your sorry hides with my bare hands!”[/color]

Manzur was still ahead, running at full speed. He made no attempt to conceal his movements and the archers began taking aim at him. It will still be a ways off before he could manage to come upon them. 

The archers aimed at Manzur this time.[Hider=Dodge]Failure[/hider]One arrow hit the warrior’s thigh, piercing it badly. He knelt to the ground grunting in pain. A bad wound.

Meanwhile, Ashe was coming ever closer to them above. She was almost within stabbing distance of the first one. If she lunged she could make it, but at risk of being heard before she got a chance. [i]Would she take it slow and quiet? Or would she chance a lunge attack?[/i]

Ashevelen crept forward silently, ready to strike down the first archer.[hider=Attack Roll]Roll = 1d20+3= 14[/hider]Ashe took her sword out and silently approached the first archer and with a smile, her sword went through the archer’s throat and used the weight of the sword and her free hand to hold the archer as they slowly fell to the ground, making sure he didn’t make any noise. 

The other archer did not perceive Ashe's presence. He continued aiming at Manzur. Cicero charged forward with his shield out to deflect any arrow that may strike his companion. 

However, it was not necessary.  Following up on the momentum, Ashe went towards the other archer keen on killing him before he released another arrow. In and out her sword came, right through his throat. Once more putting the archer silently on the ground, so as to not break her stealth in case other enemies were around but she did lift a finger up to signal her allies that she took care of the threat.

Gwen nodded at the signal, then rose up to look around for herself. Idly, she noticed how while the cave was dark, there was a brightness that did not just come from the entrance. Beams of light bounced through openings above onto mirrors to help give a muted light to see more hieroglyphs upon the smoothed out cave walls, particularly over the single doorway that led deeper into the mountain. Seeing no further danger for the moment though, she stooped back down, broke the arrow to slip the halves out, then began to pour her power in to heal it.

Cicero threw Manzur’s arm over his shoulder and helped the veteran make it to the cave. He called to Gwyn, [color=orange]”You okay over there? Manzur’s been hit as well..”[/color] He glanced upward to Ashe and gave a thumbs up. 

[color=teal]“I should be fine now.” [/color] She pressed a bit more healing into her foot. [color=teal]“My foot will be a bit sore until I can more properly care for it, but I can definitely help your friend now.”[/color]

Ashe looked at her companions once more from above and then closed her eyes. Focusing her "energy" on listening for any kind of sounds coming from the cave.[Hider=Perception Roll]1d20 --18[/hider]All was quiet. Satisfied by the lack of any threats, she went to check the bodies for valuables and couldn't find anything special. Taking a bow and the arrows, she went down to her companions. Questions were about to be answered. 

"[Color=gold] You're welcome…[i]Gwyn[/i] for the save or should I say Freda? Nah, I like [i] Gwyn [/i] more. [/color]"

Gwyn frowned. [color=teal]”Gwyn would be fine.”[/color] Then she made her way over to Manzur and started healing his wounds. [color=teal] “Thank you indeed for the save there. You definitely showed skill in taking out those archers."[/color]

"[Color=gold] Gwyn. Any particular reason as to why you and…whatever your real name is, would uphold your real identities? Don't get me wrong, I don't care about whatever dark past you may have but I care if it'll come to bite us in the ass later.[/color]" quickly replied "[color=gold]Ashe[/color]," before doing a mock bow towards Gywn. "[Color=gold]You're most welcome.[/color]" 

Cicero placed Manzur down next to Gwyn, furrowing his brow. He nearly kicked himself for his own mental slip, [color=orange][i]"Danger brings out the truth in us all.."[/i][/color] He thought to himself. [color=orange]"Okay."[/color] He sighed, [color=orange]"We'll tell you. Let's just get out of the open first."[/color]

[color=teal]”That would be best.”[/color] Gwyn finished healing Manzur, then looked inward. [color=teal]”The only way further in would seem to be that passage.”[/color]