Loradan said:
"The fact that summons aren't going to be cast for a while is a major problem."
"And about the portal, I'm puzzled. Why was the Hag locked in a room with a secret magical passage? She could even teleport away at any time. Was that even a prison?"

"Anyway, only Shins can scout effectively what lies on the other side of the portal. I can offer to cast invisibility on him, to be safe."
"Maybe Peloquin could check the red brick in the left room for traps, in the mean time."

"We need to decide a formation. BenKii and Siegfried will surely be in the front (I could cast Reflect Spells on them), but I need some warrior to remain beside me when they'll attack. Maybe Rufus or Gilius?"
"Drows and orcs could enter the portals after us and rush-attack the Hag."

"What is Tanea going to do instead? Don't you want to rescue Roosevelt with us?"

Peloquin, would you be willing to scout what lies beyond the portal in the right room and report back what you see? We can have Loradan and Roy cast protective spells on you in case the Hag is in there. You're our best candidate for scouting because of your unique ability to locate and disarm traps.

Rufus "I can participate in the small expedition, I'm able to cast many kind of protections, a 'Globe of Protection', Flying 'ring of swords' - for that one, you should stick to my 'what''s below the back' or you might get cut to death.
Finally, a bit risky, I may act as a lure and use 'divine retaliation' and let the gods decide my destiny.

I also suggest the combined attack: we enter the portal as a small group, and quickly send a message to the others to join us in a possible fight."

Tanea, what's this about a detour you need to make? And what does it have to do with these paintings?

I, Strigon, drow necromancer thinks that one option of going down the tunnel to the large wooden door is not happening right now because I suppose a big boss battle is waiting there for us.
And we don't have proper resources and team strength to fight that right now.

So some people have voted to go through the portal and rescue roosevelt and others want to stay back and inspect the paintings ?

"Judging by the muddy prints on the floor, the rats came out or rather through the painting that hang on the right wall of the left room and is currently held by Roy. So, I actually sent them away from the only place they could have returned home from. It is also suspicious, that the door to this room was closed when Rufus, and later the rest of the group, arrived in front of it. But I have no explanation for that."

"As for Roosevelt. I want to help find and save him, but I do not believe, that this portal will lead us there. The placement is just ... off. Maybe the trap in form of this mark was just to hide another trap, that noone would expect to be one, because they think the trap was already taken care of. I would like to know what this red brick hides. Maybe it is some kind of opening mechanism for a secret passageway. If there is one, the Hag might have teleported into it to get away."

"If I leave here, I might not come back, especially not if I leave by that portal. We don't know if it is only one way or if it will sent us to our deaths even, should it be some form of trap. Regardless, If I want to get a chance to correct my mistake, I will have to do it now or I will never be able to."

I sigh deeply and sadly. "I'm sorry, but I am no fighter anyway and my magical skills will not do any good against this Hag either. You can do without me. The rats have noone else to try and get them back home. I know it sounds silly and maybe it is, but they are important to me. I can't quite explain it, not even to myself."

Well it isn't a good idea for you to go alone. If Peloquin or someone else wants to scout the portal then I will accompany you to send the rats back to their home. After all, I've grown fond of the rats myself and wish them to return to their original home. I know it sounds gross but I can use the bones I found in the Hag's prison to lure the rats into the painting.

Siegfried, I don't know when I'll be back so I'm counting on you to save Roosevelt.

That is very kind of you, BenKii. Are you sure, you will not be missed? That Hag is very powerful. I wouldn't want anyone to reduce the chance of success for getting Roosevelt back alive, just because I'm being silly.
About the bones ... Maybe that is not a good idea. There might be other wild things in the painting and it could attract them to us, to the ... door to here. I was thinking of trying to put the painting where the rats can see it, _if_ they are still in the main chamber. Maybe they are as confused as we were about ending up here and seeing the grass, maybe smelling it even, is all that is needed for them to find their way back home on their own. Otherwise, I will try my "special charm" again.
Do you believe, putting those two paintings face to face on top of each other might prevent anything else getting out of them? They are the same size and in frames. There would only be little room in between them.

I'm determined to go through the portal and hopefully rescue Roosevelt. It'd be ideal if someone could explore first (otherwise I would just throw a bone to check it doesn't explode). I can't force others to cross the portal, but anyone willing to venture into this miniquest is welcome to join.

~~~~~~~~
Siegfried the Human Paladin

"I'm speechless.. Benki, you suddenly changed your mind and decided to rescue some (not even in danger) rats instead of Roosevelt?"
"Did you already forget that all this happened because of you?"
"We won't be able to face such powerful witch if our group gets smaller and smaller."
Loradan said.
He was quite baffled and angered by the human's behaviour.

Druids! - the mage thought.
"I'm not a fan of your priorities, halfling, but I guess you already made up your mind."
"Please, if you have some protection spells, at least cast them on the party before leaving."

It isn't lost on me that this was my fault, but Tanea is set on going back to the chamber and that's not a good idea to go alone. I'm much more of help to her if the rats get out of hand. I have full confidence that Siegfried can lead the party to save Roosevelt. As soon as I finish helping Tanea, I'll get back here as fast as I can. Besides, we're still waiting on the portal to be scouted first so we might even get back before that's even finished.
I'm sure. I want to make sure you stay safe.

Yes, that might work. We can also hold the painting up against the wall to prevent anything from coming out of it. I'll get the Meadow painting from Roy. You can get the other one from Peloquin.

She's not a druid.

( Ops! Well, I guess Loradan is mistaken :P )

Peloquin. Have you already checked that marked spot (red brick) in the left room by any chance? If not, would you mind doing that? I would like to know what that is about, but sadly, I have no means to check it myself.

--------------------
Tanea, Halfling Shaman (female)
I'm torn - again. The muddy prints are from my temporary furry friends. They were in the left room. They came out of / through the painting that hang on the right wall and is currently beeing held by Roy right now (formerly Web, at least I think "Roy" is what he replied to me introducing myself to him, Peloquin and Rufus, it sounded very growly so I'm not really sure). Trees and swaying grass. I'm so stupid. I was wondering if they wouldn't be happier living in hills and woods. How could I believe, even for a second, they would live _here_?! And I sent them away from their home. When I catch myself looking back down the tunnel towards where they vanished into the Main Chamber, I see the Ice Elemental walking towards it. ... I don't know what to make of that.
I make my clumsy fear known by berating Peloquin, Rufus and Roy for seemingly ignoring suffocating in here. Peloquin seems surprised himself. Rufus and Roy don't even bother acknowledging me. Or is it something else? Something on their minds perhaps? I don't know. How would I?
Suddenly there is a mighty noise coming from the right room. It saddens me to see, that Gilius sent his Stone Elemental to his death. Doesn't he care? Why calling a companion you don't care for? Or ... are they not companions? Why summon at all then? Why not wear armour and wrap yourself in protective spells? Why call something just to hurt it?
I let myself get distracted by the appearance of a blue portal in the right room. That is a weird choice to hide something like that. Now most of the group want to go through there, hoping to find Roosevelt. They believe it will take them to where the Hag took him. I don't believe that. Why would the path leading to the Hag be in the wall right next to the Hag? In a prison wall? Something isn't right. I will not go through that, regardless of the rats.
The red brick appearing where the burnt painting hang on the other hand ... looks more promising. Maybe it will open a path? Or will the big tunnel lead us to where the Hag took Roosevelt? But ... then there would be no way out in our chosen tunnel, would there be?
And one more thought troubles me: Who or what opened/closed the door to the left room? It was closed when we arrived in front of it. Did the rats accidently bump it shut? But who opened it then? Or did it stand open for who knows how long? For what purpose?
This place is a maze. Maybe we are the rats here. But ... what are the rats then?

Tanea, Halfling Shaman (female)
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58 - FlockeSchnee - Tanea - Halfling Shaman
Tanea asks Peloquin (holding the "Bridge painting") and Roy (holding the "Trees and Grass" painting) for the paintings so she can try to correct her mistake.
In any case (if she gets the desired "Trees and Grass" painting or not), she will wait outside the left room, in hopes of finding out about that mysterious single red brick where the burned picture hang.
She will also have the only spell, that might be useful to those venturing through the portal, ready to cast, when departure accures (NOT this dice roll phase, seeing how we might take a phase more for that).
(Spoiler ;-): That spell is: "Protection From Elements" (note: Roy and Siegfried currently have it, it was also cast by Tanea.))
--------------------
No changes from starting equipment (Staff, 2x Heal potion).
5 spells cast (of 12): 1x Calm Animals (on Turn 2, already expired), 1x Heal (on Siegfried),
2x Protection from Elements (on Roy Jenks - Turn 8; on Siegfried - Turn 9),
1x Summon Ice Elemental on Turn 5 (ends end of Turn 9/beginning of Turn 10)
SINCE TURN 10:
19 spell casts available, none used; otherwise no change from before; Ice Elemental should have vanished already, will vanish beginning turn 11 now? Recasting only at turn 15 or later then.

"Fine, but I won't risk going though that portal with few warriors, so you'd better come back quick if you care about Roosevelt."