Roy will enter the room, and dump Shins unceremoniously to the ground. Not going to carry him around anymore, and I was compensated for the walk down the tunnel. Looking around, obviously someone with a great skill in Illusion or Nature magic created this, and needs "our help" - this half-orc is suspicious.

Listening to BenKii... lesser technological socieities? From the sky? Ugh... another mad human, and this one thinks he is some sort of godling, or being from the celestial planes? His beliefs must use opening doors as a metaphor of bringing in the faith to others.

To Tanea: "Be wary. If the painting was the home for the rats, and the painting is now embeded on your arm, they may see the path back home to be THRU your arm."

At least the drow have our backs covered... unless the drow have the same reputation in this world as in other RPGs. Then that might not be a reassuring thought.

(I could not find any information about the DnD-Universe knowing about spacetravel and stuff. Which does not really surprise me.)
I look at BenKii. Starship? He thinks he fell from the stars and worships them? Or does he mean he is a God or was sent by a God/the Gods? And to him they are stars? And what is a galaxy? He doesn't seem to be dangerous. Unless all of this actions so far were deception. For what gain?

"I don't trust you any less." Because it's true. Maybe I am too trusting? "Agreeing to help not knowing the details, is unwise. And in this case: Killing us would only make sense after we became or turned out to be "useless"".

I grimace and squelch an "Ewww" threating to escape. I walk over to Shins, take the scarf that was wrapped around my midriff and gently put it under his head. While doing so, I ask Roy: "Do you dislike all rats or only really big ones? Have you met some of this size before?" I look at him curiously. Maybe rats this size are more common than I thought? Then I take my light jacket of and drape it over Shins upper body. It's too short for a blanket, but it will have to do.

EDIT: And should BenKii (or someone else) carry Shins with him (them), Tanea will retrieve jacket and scarf before moving down the path.

(I didn't mean to barge in like that. Should've been more descriptive in my actions.)

Captain's Log Stardate 73303.3
The spirit's name was Cassandra. Was she good or was she evil. Signs point to the former but this dungeon is anything but nice. She knew I wasn't from here and seemed to want to help us but she needed help first.

The rest of the party now know who I am but they, for the most part, seem unphased by this news. Roy is just scratching his head. I'm not sure he even knows what outer space is.

I continue on in the hopes of finding a way out and possibly the identity of the individual responsible.

Since Roy dumped Shins to the ground, I will pick him up and carry him as long as I can also carry the painting. If I can only carry one then I will carry the painting with the promise I will come back for Shins. I continue to follow Tanea by her side making sure to stay on the path. Once we reach Cassandra, I listen to her plight keeping a wary eye out in case anything should attack us.
If there is an opportunity for questions afterwards, I would like to ask her the following:
1. Who or what is responsible for bringing us to this dungeon?
2. Is there a way out?
3. *holds up painting* Do you know anything about this moving painting? Is it some kind of portal?

Current Actions Summary:

58 - FlockeSchnee - Tanea - Halfling Shaman
1. (Since Tanea stupidly missed muddy paws and stuff last time because she was blind:) Tanea looks each rat over and while she is doing so strokes over each ones head (only if they allow it, of course) saying "Hello". Something of note?
She also tells them that following her from here on might not be such a good idea and to decide for themselves if they really want to do that (no idea if that's gonna do/change anything, should they be under Tanea's control though).
2. Tanea looks more closely at the tattoo. Does it look like the original painting? Something changed or else of note?
3. Tanea introduces herself to Silent (Yeenwi) and Guardian (Strigon) and thanks Roy for carrying Shins.
4. Tanea tells everyone that there are lots of things she doesn't know, especially things about war. Making sure to pay close attention to BenKii to see if he is listening.
5. Tanea reminds everyone, that she wouldn't be of much/any help in a battle, should one await them somewhere down that path (or anywhere else really). And suggest to anyone wanting to continue to probably not leave the pathway, because if it's all an illusion they might step into deadly things.
6. Tanea walks the path slowly but steady to wherever it leads, paying close attention to her surroundings (what does she see?). She will keep her defensive spells (Sleep, Entangle, Calm Animals) and protective spell (Protection From Elements) ready and cast them as needed, should an attack occur (by a valid target for either of those spells and/or with an elemental attack)
7. When Tanea reaches "the voice" and no attack occures, she will (finally) introduce herself properly. (What does her counterpart look like?)

38 - ZyloxDragon - Roy Jenks - Half-Orc Battemage -- ( Protection from Elements )
Roy will enter the room, and dump Shins unceremoniously to the ground. Not going to carry him around anymore, and I was compensated for the walk down the tunnel. Looking around, obviously someone with a great skill in Illusion or Nature magic created this, and needs "our help" - this half-orc is suspicious.
Listening to BenKii... lesser technological socieities? From the sky? Ugh... another mad human, and this one thinks he is some sort of godling, or being from the celestial planes? His beliefs must use opening doors as a metaphor of bringing in the faith to others.
To Tanea: "Be wary. If the painting was the home for the rats, and the painting is now embeded on your arm, they may see the path back home to be THRU your arm."
At least the drow have our backs covered... unless the drow have the same reputation in this world as in other RPGs. Then that might not be a reassuring thought.

25 - BenKii - BenKii - Human Warrior
1.*speaks to Cassandra*
I see you already know who I am. Then as a representative of the Federation, I will hear your plight and help in any way I can. In return, I hope you can answer some questions and perhaps help us find a way out of this dungeon.
2.Since Roy dumped Shins to the ground, I will pick him up and carry him as long as I can also carry the painting. If I can only carry one then I will carry the painting with the promise I will come back for Shins. I continue to follow Tanea by her side making sure to stay on the path. Once we reach Cassandra, I listen to her plight keeping a wary eye out in case anything should attack us.
If there is an opportunity for questions afterwards, I would like to ask her the following:
1. Who or what is responsible for bringing us to this dungeon?
2. Is there a way out?
3. What's up with this painting?

Haven't taken turn yet:

76 - Lemon_Curry - Shins A'Hoy - Halfling Thief
4 - sasuke12 - Strigon - Drow Necromancer
74 - runnerex - Yeenwi - Drow Necromancer -- ( Death Armour, Levitate )

I strigon, drow necromancer awaits to listen to the conversation between Tanea and Cassandra.
I stay close to my team and have my crossbow ready in case the rats try to surprise attack us.

Yeenwi follows the party through the door, levitating all the time, even when passing through the door itself, careful not to touch anything and then staying at a height of about 1-1,5 meters. He is also curious about this Cassandra voice, but wary still. As he listened to BenKii's confession, an amusing thought occurred to him. If they all survived this, he would have to recommend bi-weekly sessions with a Lloth priestess. That would surely cure him of all this "Captain" nonsense.

( Edited my post. The last question about the painting was too vague. Edited to better clarify the question.)

Updated Actions

Current Actions Summary:

58 - FlockeSchnee - Tanea - Halfling Shaman
1. (Since Tanea stupidly missed muddy paws and stuff last time because she was blind:) Tanea looks each rat over and while she is doing so strokes over each ones head (only if they allow it, of course) saying "Hello". Something of note?
She also tells them that following her from here on might not be such a good idea and to decide for themselves if they really want to do that (no idea if that's gonna do/change anything, should they be under Tanea's control though).
2. Tanea looks more closely at the tattoo. Does it look like the original painting? Something changed or else of note?
3. Tanea introduces herself to Silent (Yeenwi) and Guardian (Strigon) and thanks Roy for carrying Shins.
4. Tanea tells everyone that there are lots of things she doesn't know, especially things about war. Making sure to pay close attention to BenKii to see if he is listening.
5. Tanea reminds everyone, that she wouldn't be of much/any help in a battle, should one await them somewhere down that path (or anywhere else really). And suggest to anyone wanting to continue to probably not leave the pathway, because if it's all an illusion they might step into deadly things.
6. Tanea walks the path slowly but steady to wherever it leads, paying close attention to her surroundings (what does she see?). She will keep her defensive spells (Sleep, Entangle, Calm Animals) and protective spell (Protection From Elements) ready and cast them as needed, should an attack occur (by a valid target for either of those spells and/or with an elemental attack)
7. When Tanea reaches "the voice" and no attack occures, she will (finally) introduce herself properly. (What does her counterpart look like?)

38 - ZyloxDragon - Roy Jenks - Half-Orc Battemage -- ( Protection from Elements )
Roy will enter the room, and dump Shins unceremoniously to the ground. Not going to carry him around anymore, and I was compensated for the walk down the tunnel. Looking around, obviously someone with a great skill in Illusion or Nature magic created this, and needs "our help" - this half-orc is suspicious.
Listening to BenKii... lesser technological socieities? From the sky? Ugh... another mad human, and this one thinks he is some sort of godling, or being from the celestial planes? His beliefs must use opening doors as a metaphor of bringing in the faith to others.
To Tanea: "Be wary. If the painting was the home for the rats, and the painting is now embeded on your arm, they may see the path back home to be THRU your arm."
At least the drow have our backs covered... unless the drow have the same reputation in this world as in other RPGs. Then that might not be a reassuring thought.

25 - BenKii - BenKii - Human Warrior
1.*speaks to Cassandra*
I see you already know who I am. Then as a representative of the Federation, I will hear your plight and help in any way I can. In return, I hope you can answer some questions and perhaps help us find a way out of this dungeon.
2.Since Roy dumped Shins to the ground, I will pick him up and carry him as long as I can also carry the painting. If I can only carry one then I will carry the painting with the promise I will come back for Shins. I continue to follow Tanea by her side making sure to stay on the path. Once we reach Cassandra, I listen to her plight keeping a wary eye out in case anything should attack us.
If there is an opportunity for questions afterwards, I would like to ask her the following:
1. Who or what is responsible for bringing us to this dungeon?
2. Is there a way out?
3. *holds up painting* Do you know anything about this moving painting? Is it some kind of portal?

4 - sasuke12 - Strigon - Drow Necromancer
I strigon, drow necromancer awaits to listen to the conversation between Tanea and Cassandra.
I stay close to my team and have my crossbow ready in case the rats try to surprise attack us.

74 - runnerex - Yeenwi - Drow Necromancer -- ( Death Armour, Levitate )
Yeenwi follows the party through the door, levitating all the time, even when passing through the door itself, careful not to touch anything and then staying at a height of about 1-1,5 meters. He is also curious about this Cassandra voice, but wary still. As he listened to BenKii's confession, an amusing thought occurred to him. If they all survived this, he would have to recommend bi-weekly sessions with a Lloth priestess. That would surely cure him of all this "Captain" nonsense.

Haven't taken turn yet:

76 - Lemon_Curry - Shins A'Hoy - Halfling Thief

(Just so everyone knows. In the Southern Tunnel where the adventurers were fighting the Hags, they managed to kill 2 out of 3 of them. Then one of them said "The doorway has been opened." then teleported away. I thought she was referring to a door in the Southern tunnel but now I believe she was talking about the door we opened to get to Cassandra. We'll most likely be fighting her so we should see what stuff Cassandra has to prepare ourselves for a fight.)

(I don't know if it was intentional or not but Cassandra never answered my question about the painting. If it happens to be as simple as a portal to the outside then I was thinking about using it on Shins to save him from the upcoming battle with the Hag.)

(I may have an idea how to defeat the Hag using my depleted phaser. Going to ask Doc in chat if it can be done.)

(Damn, do I wish those rats could talk. I'm almost certain _they_ know what's going on here. EDIT: Tanea _might_ try "Dispel Magic" on at least one of them, just to see what happens, if anything does.)

(She tells the group what they want/expect to hear, but doesn't answer the important questions. She even plays the "prophecy card" and plays on "BenKii's nobility".)

(Maybe those Hags actually are here for that "power with no end", but maybe it's actually a coven of 4 Hags and they can't/aren't allowed to kill each other so this is a great place to let others to do it for them? And the last one standing inherits the power of all of them? This is all driving me nuts. I want her to be nice, but ... so many red flags. But ... maybe I'm just too suspicious about stuff?)

(She said "my sisters". How am I supposed to let Tanea overlook/overhear that, seeing how she already suspects something weird/wrong going on here?)

(Regardless of Tanea's and/or my suspicions - just to be clear: Tanea chose staff over dagger for a reason. And now she gets offered a _bone_ dagger of all things? She prefers things alive. She doesn't want to carry a "real" weapon, _especially_ not one made out of dead things.)

(I'd hold off on using "Dispel Magic" unless you have more of them. I'd like to save it for the Hag fight. If you do happen to have more than one, maybe using "Dispel Magic" on Cassandra may reveal her to be the 4th Hag.)

(I have suspicions as well she could be evil in disguise. Using her "goodness" against us to have us defeat her "sister" for her becoming the ultimate power. Hags and Witches in general are always trying to seek youth & beauty. They usually get that from eating young children (depending on the stories you read). Her divine "beauty" could also be another illusion. Casting the "Dispel Magic" may reveal her true nature but we may be in for a fight if we do that. Maybe we need to question her more to get her to trip up and reveal herself unintentionally.)

(Thank you. I always forget I can cast that on the "evil" ones. :-) But there are no worries there. Since Turn 10 Tanea has 19 spell casts left. She is allowed to cast any of her spells as often or as few as she wants. So she could cast 19 "Dispel Magic" if she really wanted to.
I suspect the rats to not be rats, but maybe former victims. Just like I suspect that bone dagger to be enchanted. Thought process: Tanea prefers things alive. If she gives in to temptation/naivity and "accepts" that bone dagger, she gets transformed into a rat and will end up at "Cassandra's" mercy. EDIT: Of course that might be totally wrong, that's why I wished the rats could talk.)

(We will be in for a fight regardless. She told us her sisters are on the way.
Questioning will be pointless. She doesn't answer questions straight and some of them even not at all.
Problem is, we are only 5 and Tanea is useless in fights. My hope is that the rats aren't rats and will help out, if their true form is restored.
Just had an epiphany: Tanea could cast "Dispel Magic" on Cassandra and if she turns out to be something/someone else "Sleep". But that didn't work with the first Hag (or rather Tanea never cast it, so I just assumed it wouldn't work on her).
But I'm waiting for Doc to answer a question regarding the rats current friendliness.)

(Given the incoming Hags, Tanea would like to try that too, but that place is cold, so Shins would probably just freeze to death. :-( )