Drassarr acknowledges Jevaf's nod and follows her into the cave, as he moves he reaches into his quiver and draws out a short bow and and arrow, he then looks at it and mutters something in his own tongue. He puts the bow back and draws another, this is obviously the correct one as he advances slowly along the opposite side as Jevaf keeping equal with her, blending in with the shadows and ready to shoot anything that might pose an immediate threat to Jevaf of himself. He hopes the others get sorted and follow, but stay a distance behind so not to compromise their cover.

He could no longer talk as silence was key, maybe he should invest in something that granted him telepathy.

(Taking 10's on move silent and hide checks. Also taking 10's on spot and listen check)

whatever was in here would know about him soon as he entered the ave he made sure he waasn't quiet however not too loud, he picked Dragoncrest his huge shield and hooked it onto his arm, it clattered against his heavy full-plate armour and he unsheathed his longsword and held it pointing forward showing he was here foe, vindication and purification their cave shall be won he was sure of it only the friends who were with him best be ready this could be nasty.

As he had proven a number of time in the past, Grakh was not one who favoured the idea of attacking an unprepared opponent. Whether wittingly or not, he nearly ensured that any foe within about a mile was fully prepared for his descent into the cave. It may prove a boon or bust to the two who set of seconds ago. Perhaps the metal cacophony emanating from beyond the cave mouth would deceive potential listens into misjudging the proximity of the front lines. But then, perhaps not.

Gamiates followed behind, careful not to be in the way of either of the half-orcs. They both knew how to fight, and fight well they did, where his own speciality favoured distance from his enemies.

Who knows, if the group was lucky today, the clamour would chase away any hostilities already present within the cave. Maybe they would leave the painting behind also, or possibly they hasn't even arrived to perform the transaction. Maybe world peace would arrive any moment now and rainbows would shoot through the skies. Gamiates was not necessarily the optimistic type.

Jevaf and Dassarr departed into the cave first, their steps were careful and well placed as they moves as quietly as they could. They were followed by the others with much less stealth, which to Dassarr and Jevafs annoyance might have blown their cover. As they walked down the tunnel Jevaf and Dassarr turn at the end to the opening on the right. Only to hear a voice that said “Hold it right there, you can put away your bows now, thank-you. Tell the others to stay outside and we can begin.” Jevaf with her eyes, attuned to the any depth of darkness, could not identify the source.

(sorry it took so long, was on vacation for those of you who didn't know.)

At the sound of the faint voice ordering them to stop and "leave the weapons and others outside", Maaht paused only briefly before piping up from near the back. But it was obvious that he was pitching his voice purposely lower and adopting a crude, orcish delivery, saying, "Boss ma'am? I don' like it, but if ya say so, we stay close in case ya need us. T'ink ya oughta take at least one bodyguard wit ya tho' ..."

Drassarr heard the voice coming from the shadows and heard the voice from behind him and decided to play along, he gently took the bow string back to it's resting position so that he could not shoot it and pointed it towards the ground but still holding the bow and arrow in his left hand he stepped out of the shadows towards the dark elf.
"Misstrress" he said inquisitively is a meek sort of voice, he hopped he could pass it off "I agree with him, what would you have uss do?"

Gorsh cracked a huge smile at Maaht's quick thinking. Portraying the dark elven female as the boss and the rest as her lackeys might not even seem unusual to the invisible voice.

The only way that Gorsh could keep from bursting out in a guffaw at the absurdity Maaht had suggested was to stammer, "Y'Y'Yeah, b'b'b'boss! W'What he s's'said!". He hoped his amusement wasn't betrayed by his attempt to play "another witless minion".

"Be silent." Jevaf murmurs, her voice emotionless, devoid of irritation, commanding, and more a statement rather than a request, as she thinks quickly.

They can see us, and from the sounds of it, they could have been expecting us. Jevaf quickly ascertains, There are a number of possibilities... one quite advantageous.
"They will leave, after you provide a length of time. I'm sure you know why." Jevaf voices.

While she speaks, Jevaf places her bow back over her shoulder, and puts her hands into the sleeves of her robes, appearing almost like some sort of dark priest ready to give a malevolent sermon. The hilts of the two daggers hidden in the sleeves briefly touch her fingers, but she doesn't take them. It isn't to say Jevaf is unused to this situation, having had a couple similar ones in being a mercenary, although, generally the situation was reversed, with her telling the employer to leave their bodyguards while they conducted the business. Trust is key, even among 'business partners'. If one cannot be trusted, no business could be done.

"Ahh, well then" he says with a chuckle, "Tell them that they can come back inside after ten minutes, this should not take long." Once the others have left the room, Jevaf sees the thief step out from behind a stalagmite in the back of the cave, holding a covered bundle and a rod. He strikes it on the rock and the cave is filled with bright light. "You have the money? A thousand gold, as your master promised," he says to Jevaf.

Drassarr had thrown his lot in with this plan, now it was time to get the other on board as well, both Grakh and Gamiates had kept quiet so far, was that because of uncertainty or refusal to play along, he passionately hoped it was the first.

He did a quick, obvious and uncertain scan of where the voice came from and returned his gaze to Jevaf,
"Ass you wissh Misstrresss."
and he turned and walked, still faster then any human but at his norm, if their is one, towards the others, without stopping he beckoned them to follow him and said this
"Come on shorty, orc-face, the misstrresss wantss uss ou' ta herre."
He wanted the rest to follow him and to make conversation as to cover the footsteps of two more people then he wanted to make out to be, on the hunt or on a raid you aways try to conceal your numbers.

When outside the cave he turned to the rest of the group with a 'what now' kind of expression on his face and whispered the obvious thing
"We should be ready if Jevaf needs us."

Hearing Drassar's words, Maaht hoped he read them correctly. As the others filed past him (including his metal-clad "kin", thank the fates!), he planted his back to the wall and placed a hand on the shoulder of the dwarf, indicating him to stay also, since they were the two Drassar had "singled out" with his statement ...

He quietly placed his morningstar behind him against the wall. He would rely on the daggers at his back and his "surprise" range weapon for now.

Gorsh didn't immediately understand what Drassar wanted, and was not happy when the felinoid, "playing the part", ordered them outside.

His brief start was halted by Maaht's hand on his shoulder, pulling him back to the wall of the passage. Gorshak was even more confused, but only briefly. When he noticed Maaht put his morning star aside, he placed his own bow behind him also, but didn't bother to sruggle out from under the quiver.

For the umpteenth time, he thanked Moradin that he had chosen a favored weapon other than the traditional axe or warhammer! The scimitar that he called "Foecutter" was curved and worn so that it did not protrude to either side of his dwarven width, but was easily drawn by crossing his left hand to the hilt, just over his right shoulder. He waited in silence for the next act in this "play" ...

The price had been brought up, but Jevaf paid no heed to it. Why should the party give up anything on behalf of their employer if their expense may not be covered? However, as the thief brought forth the air of an exchange, Jevaf caught the mistakes. The three sided plan unfolded in her keen mind, and so she moved onto the next step, which was to have the painting revealed.

"Perhaps I do, and yet, perhaps I don't. Just as you perhaps hold the item to exchange for it, or perhaps not. How is one supposed to tell if it is covered?" Jevaf says softly, her voice betraying no emotion, because in truth she felt none.

Gamiates glanced at Drassar without moving at first, his eyes lingering on the dark depths of the cave where the sound emanated from. Where, he wondered, was the real agent that was supposed to be meeting the thief? It would surely be unfortunate for him to show up now that we have claimed the right. He shifted his poor human eyesight from the deeps of the darkness to the barely visible form that was Jevaf, the assumed leader of this group. She was a tricky one, and acknowledged by Gamiates as the most wily and cunning of all of them. Though as for that, her coldness and dettachement made her . . . difficult to cooperate with.

Knowing better than to throw the intricate plan that was no doubt winding through that drow's mind, Gamiates left with the others. Being the only one capable of spellcasting in this group, he considered himself the primary authority on magical issues. His hand unconsciously reached for the wooden disk that hung around his neck as he considered his arcane and divine arts. If only he could get closer without being seen, he could locate and identify any items of power that the thief could be wearing.

An obvious smile ran across Drassarr's face, his plan had worked, without telling them so Maaht and Gorsh had stayed inside the cave, he hoped they realised that he did not intend to leave them their. If Jevaf is smart she would now be able to bluff about 'shorty' and 'orc-face' staying to protect her and himself going to summon the town guard or a large, and imaginary, force of mercenaries.

It was a shame that Gorsh had taken offence at the name he had just been called but he knew to protect their real identities as well as portraying a 'fearsome' group of fighters, even a skilled halfling is not to be trifled with.

He turned to the other two, Gamiates and Grakh,
"Sorrry for acting leaderr, I know I'm not but you two didn't sseak up. The theft dossen't know you two arre herre and we do not know how many he hass, I know you disslike thiss Grakh but we sshould let Jevaf have a chance. At leasst we should prepairr betterr forr battle."

He then took his quiver from his back and drew out two short spears, a number of javelins, a shortbow and 10 arrows with leather sashes tied round where the point should be.