Breena will take the ale offered even though it's not exactly appealing (who is she to say no to a free drink?) and raise it toward the dwarf, acting more intoxicated than she is again. "Honestly, I'm just glad to see I'm not the only one here shorter than four and a half feet! They always want to make me talk to the kobolds because we see eye-to-eye as if that makes a difference. I didn't know Kanred or Torner, but I hope they're getting exactly what they deserve. Drink!"
Breena, you find that strangely your awful singing actually helps you to get along with these two. And it is awful, let there be no doubt about that. Loud, off-key, with heavily slurred words. If Elspeth and Soar were standing any closer they'd be making constitution saving throws. You are fitting right in with the drunks though.
Kobolds! shouts the drunk man. F'k'n kob'lds. F'k'n c'w'rds. He may be on the verge of passing out.
The dwarf replies. Yeah! Sodding peasants. Worthless shitty town. Hah! Barely even a town, more like a village. A stupid worthless little village. Drink! To Tored! And... and...
To Kanner! the man cries. Yeah, him, the dwarf responds, and they both drink.
(Did Soar hear what the first group was whispering with her perception? And apologies for my last post about rejoining with Elspeth -- I honestly just missed the line about the spider running into another tent and assumed she scurried off into the darkness, allowing Soar, Breena, and Spiderspeth to rejoin each other. My bad.)
After entering the tent, Elspeth would linger for upwards of 5 minutes, trying to overhear something interesting. If she gets spotted, she's going to scuttle outside straight away. Either way, once she exits the tent, if Soar isn't within sight, she'll stay for a minute or two hoping that her friend passes close by, and then she'll head towards the center of the camp, where the tents were clustered the closest together.
Elspeth, you hear a couple of mercenaries, possibly in bed, talking to each other. You inch closer to hear the conversation better.
No, no trouble at all. I'm just glad you're back.
I told you, Greenest was a pushover, just as we expected.
Hey, give me that, will you?
You're hands are freezing, you know that?
Hush, I'm thirsty.
They continue talking for a minute or two, quiet words intended not to be overheard outside the tent. You are about to leave when the conversation turns to 'the nursery' - from what you hear, it's a cave far from the camp entrance that is the domain of one of the leaders of the cult - you hear the name 'Rezmir' mentioned, and some mention of eggs, though it's not clear what kind of eggs. You also hear some complaints about the kobolds:
Filthy little sods. I don't know why Mondath doesn't...
Shhhh. You know they buy all that dragon bullshit the cultists are spouting. Makes them real easy to manipulate, I reckon. Mondath doesn't even have to pay them, or so I hear.
At least they keep to their own disgusting camp; the less I have to do with them the better. They should stick the prisoners in with them; that would stop them whining.
It appears that one of the pair stayed behind during the raid, and one of their duties was to watch and feed the prisoners, a job that he hated. They talk about how some prisoners in the past have 'converted' and joined the dragon cultists, but most eventually end up as food for... it's not clear what, but something.
After a while longer, the conversation ends and you suspect the two are sleeping or attempting to sleep. You exit the tent.
(Did Soar wait around outside the tent during this period of around 5-10 minutes, or did she do something else?)
(If Soar saw Spiderspeth go into the tent, she would have found a place on the other side of the tent from the campfire, waiting for her Breena and the spider to rejoin her.)
Satisfied that she had heard as much as possible of the two raiders' conversations, Elspeth will, once she leaves the tent, scuttle back to Soar and climb onto her shoulder once more, skirting around the campfire. Seeing as she learned nothing particularly useful from the bandits in this cluster of tents, she isn't going to attempt to communicate any information to Soar. If no one is looking in Soar's direction, she'd like to indicate towards the tents in the direction they were previously heading towards with one leg, otherwise, she stays still to keep herself hidden, trusting Soar to know where to go next.
Breena, the two continue to drink and are soon unable to speak coherently. You also return to Soar.
The three of you make your way from this particular group of tents, and look forward into the camp. Ahead of you, the main road winds away into darkness; you get the vague sense of tents in the distance, but it's now much too dark to see effectively. You have similar options to before; to travel the main central road - it's a trail rather than a road really, but shows sign of the most traffic. Or you could attempt to creep around the rocky sides of the hollow where you are less likely to meet people on the way. Your darkvision will allow you to see anything that comes within range, but its range is limited so you cannot view distant parts of the camp as you would be able to in daylight. On the other hand, that also means fewer people can see you.
Jalt nods at Okkie. So then what do you intend to do, brother? He takes the piece of paper from him. You'd be surprised to find out that I do get a lot of mail from woodland creatures. He chuckles as he starts to read the letter. "... we're ok...... meet for lunch."He looks to Okkie. It seems my friends are ok. So I suppose I don't have to try a full on assault. But I feel like my hands are tied. Looks back away and into the sky. I think your friend misses you and probably got caught up in the moment. I see that you haven't given up on him.
(Unfortunately, it's much too dark for Jalt to be able to read the letter, without making some kind of light.)
I don't know what I intend. I've been sitting here for days, trying to think of what to do. I hope he's okay. I... would you... would you pray with me for a while?
Soar suggests to Breen that they walk down the main trail, trying to appear normal and as if they belong there, for anyone looking through the distance at them, and then once they get closer to the tents, try to see if there is any kind of gathering that is takijg people's attention in the middle.
If so, using the distraction, they could subtly step just off to the side of the main area near one of the tents and let Spiderspeth sneak in to listen while Soar and Breena try not to seem out of place, trying to match the behavior and affect of the others they see, tiredly watching whatever everyone else is.
If there's no distraction and the place is quiet, Soar would suggest they branch off to the side of the group of tents, trying once again to seem normal and like they belong there, but not trying to enter the main area assuredly in the middle of the tents by campfires.
She speaks quietly to Breena on the way over, when they aren't near anyone else:
"Basic goal is to seem uninteresting, and not worth anyone's time or attention. Do you think that works? I think if we try to sneak, that will make us stand out more. But there are people walking around and it doesn't seem like a big deal - let's just try to walk around exactly like them. We listen for others mentioning plans or goals, see if we hear anything more, count heads in this main area, look to see if we recognize that monk fellow, and then plan to leave. Still trying to come up with a cover story for that part. Maybe we pretend you are very sick and it's contagious and I carry you out and if anyone stops us we tell them that we're trying not to get anyone else in camp sick? Maybe that's a terrible idea. I'm all ears for a better one though."
Jalt looks at Okkie. Of course I'll pray with you. Jalt places a hand on Okkie's shoulder. Great Bahamut, smile down upon your faithful servants in this moment. Give your son, Okkie the clarity of mind and spirit to find a resolution to what troubles him. May he find the power of your grace to guide him and to protect over his friend and mine.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Hoard of the Dragon Queen - Jalt Rhogar - Dragonborn Cleric (9)
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Breena, Soar and Elspeth continue move along the main road, though there are fewer and fewer people around as night is setting in.
12
This time, you don't encounter anyone who pays you any attention as you move through the dark night air; just a couple of kobolds coming the other way, hoods pulled up and evidently as keen to avoid contact as you are.
You get closer, and before you you can see what turns out to be two distinct camps. The one on the left is clearly reserved for those wearing similar robes and garb to the cultists you have encountered, and the other on the right seems the same as the mercenary camp you have already seen. The cultist camp looks larger, the mercenary camp about the same size as the last one. Around the mercenary tents, there is little movement. However, there are torches everywhere around the cultists' tents, set into the ground on large wooden poles. The area is relatively bright - for a dark night - and its clear that whatever the cultists are doing, they are not stopping for nightfall; people are bustling around, some carrying equipment, and making a fair amount of noise.
Soar will approach the camp with the cultists in a way that matches the manner in which the people she's already seen have been entering. She'll try to stay out of the direct light, but since she knows this is what they came here for, she gulps and steps forward, hoping for the best. What equipment are they carrying? What do they appear to be doing? If there's a way for her to grab something similar and look busy and unobtrusive, she'll do that. And if there's a tent that seems important, she'll try to find a back corner to pause at and look at the spider on her shoulder with meaning, pausing enough for it to scurry in.
Soar, you approach the camp, with Breena in tow and SpiderElspeth perched upon your shoulders, but hiding in the folds of your cloak and hair to avoid being spotted.
You enter the camp; people are busy, too busy to pay you much attention at first. In the centre is a short woman who is barking orders; she carries a long stick and from time to time she lashes out with it at those she considers to be moving too slowly or in the wrong direction. She is wearing cultist garb, as is pretty much everyone around here. No-one is sitting around and chatting.
A few people are resting in tents, which you now notice have a clear dragon design on them. There is no tent here that seems to be particularly large or important. One tent near you has a sleeping woman you can just see through the tent flaps; another appears to be empty, and the flaps are wide open. As you look, two cultists come towards you carrying a pile of what appears to be dirty laundry, but they pass right by without even looking at you; behind you, you hear a thump, and then a voice.
Oh, my apologies.
No harm done friend, let me help you with that.
Thank you, sister. Praise Tiamat.
Praise Tiamat.
They apparently move on, and a large half-orc woman overtakes you and heads towards the centre of the encampment and then continues on through the other side.
You stand in the relative darkness, the camp bustling around you but no-one passing between the tents where you stand. You can make a Perception check to attempt to count the tents and people if you wish.
Jalt, Okkie joins your prayer. Greatest of dragons, watch over our friends and deliver them from the madness that threatens to swallow them.
As the prayer ends, the kobold opens his eyes and then opens them wider as he looks over your shoulder. Patrol, he whispers sharply, and he pulls you further down to the ground.
Performance: 4
Breena will take the ale offered even though it's not exactly appealing (who is she to say no to a free drink?) and raise it toward the dwarf, acting more intoxicated than she is again. "Honestly, I'm just glad to see I'm not the only one here shorter than four and a half feet! They always want to make me talk to the kobolds because we see eye-to-eye as if that makes a difference. I didn't know Kanred or Torner, but I hope they're getting exactly what they deserve. Drink!"
Rees Changeling Rogue in Tales From the Yawning Portal: Sunless Citadel
Nikya Centaur Blood Hunter in Death House Halloween Oneshot
Breena, you find that strangely your awful singing actually helps you to get along with these two. And it is awful, let there be no doubt about that. Loud, off-key, with heavily slurred words. If Elspeth and Soar were standing any closer they'd be making constitution saving throws. You are fitting right in with the drunks though.
Kobolds! shouts the drunk man. F'k'n kob'lds. F'k'n c'w'rds. He may be on the verge of passing out.
The dwarf replies. Yeah! Sodding peasants. Worthless shitty town. Hah! Barely even a town, more like a village. A stupid worthless little village. Drink! To Tored! And... and...
To Kanner! the man cries. Yeah, him, the dwarf responds, and they both drink.
(Did Soar hear what the first group was whispering with her perception? And apologies for my last post about rejoining with Elspeth -- I honestly just missed the line about the spider running into another tent and assumed she scurried off into the darkness, allowing Soar, Breena, and Spiderspeth to rejoin each other. My bad.)
No, Soar was busy with other things at the time, and didn't overhear the other conversations.
Perception: 23
After entering the tent, Elspeth would linger for upwards of 5 minutes, trying to overhear something interesting. If she gets spotted, she's going to scuttle outside straight away. Either way, once she exits the tent, if Soar isn't within sight, she'll stay for a minute or two hoping that her friend passes close by, and then she'll head towards the center of the camp, where the tents were clustered the closest together.
(Where is Soar at this point in the narrative?)
Elspeth, you hear a couple of mercenaries, possibly in bed, talking to each other. You inch closer to hear the conversation better.
No, no trouble at all. I'm just glad you're back.
I told you, Greenest was a pushover, just as we expected.
Hey, give me that, will you?
You're hands are freezing, you know that?
Hush, I'm thirsty.
They continue talking for a minute or two, quiet words intended not to be overheard outside the tent. You are about to leave when the conversation turns to 'the nursery' - from what you hear, it's a cave far from the camp entrance that is the domain of one of the leaders of the cult - you hear the name 'Rezmir' mentioned, and some mention of eggs, though it's not clear what kind of eggs. You also hear some complaints about the kobolds:
Filthy little sods. I don't know why Mondath doesn't...
Shhhh. You know they buy all that dragon bullshit the cultists are spouting. Makes them real easy to manipulate, I reckon. Mondath doesn't even have to pay them, or so I hear.
At least they keep to their own disgusting camp; the less I have to do with them the better. They should stick the prisoners in with them; that would stop them whining.
It appears that one of the pair stayed behind during the raid, and one of their duties was to watch and feed the prisoners, a job that he hated. They talk about how some prisoners in the past have 'converted' and joined the dragon cultists, but most eventually end up as food for... it's not clear what, but something.
After a while longer, the conversation ends and you suspect the two are sleeping or attempting to sleep. You exit the tent.
(Did Soar wait around outside the tent during this period of around 5-10 minutes, or did she do something else?)
(If Soar saw Spiderspeth go into the tent, she would have found a place on the other side of the tent from the campfire, waiting for her Breena and the spider to rejoin her.)
(We are waiting for Breena and Elspeth to say what they are doing next.)
Satisfied that she had heard as much as possible of the two raiders' conversations, Elspeth will, once she leaves the tent, scuttle back to Soar and climb onto her shoulder once more, skirting around the campfire. Seeing as she learned nothing particularly useful from the bandits in this cluster of tents, she isn't going to attempt to communicate any information to Soar. If no one is looking in Soar's direction, she'd like to indicate towards the tents in the direction they were previously heading towards with one leg, otherwise, she stays still to keep herself hidden, trusting Soar to know where to go next.
((Sorry, thought I specified))
Elspeth, you return to Soar in your spider form.
Breena, the two continue to drink and are soon unable to speak coherently. You also return to Soar.
The three of you make your way from this particular group of tents, and look forward into the camp. Ahead of you, the main road winds away into darkness; you get the vague sense of tents in the distance, but it's now much too dark to see effectively. You have similar options to before; to travel the main central road - it's a trail rather than a road really, but shows sign of the most traffic. Or you could attempt to creep around the rocky sides of the hollow where you are less likely to meet people on the way. Your darkvision will allow you to see anything that comes within range, but its range is limited so you cannot view distant parts of the camp as you would be able to in daylight. On the other hand, that also means fewer people can see you.
How do you want to proceed?
(Unfortunately, it's much too dark for Jalt to be able to read the letter, without making some kind of light.)
I don't know what I intend. I've been sitting here for days, trying to think of what to do. I hope he's okay. I... would you... would you pray with me for a while?
Soar suggests to Breen that they walk down the main trail, trying to appear normal and as if they belong there, for anyone looking through the distance at them, and then once they get closer to the tents, try to see if there is any kind of gathering that is takijg people's attention in the middle.
If so, using the distraction, they could subtly step just off to the side of the main area near one of the tents and let Spiderspeth sneak in to listen while Soar and Breena try not to seem out of place, trying to match the behavior and affect of the others they see, tiredly watching whatever everyone else is.
If there's no distraction and the place is quiet, Soar would suggest they branch off to the side of the group of tents, trying once again to seem normal and like they belong there, but not trying to enter the main area assuredly in the middle of the tents by campfires.
She speaks quietly to Breena on the way over, when they aren't near anyone else:
"Basic goal is to seem uninteresting, and not worth anyone's time or attention. Do you think that works? I think if we try to sneak, that will make us stand out more. But there are people walking around and it doesn't seem like a big deal - let's just try to walk around exactly like them. We listen for others mentioning plans or goals, see if we hear anything more, count heads in this main area, look to see if we recognize that monk fellow, and then plan to leave. Still trying to come up with a cover story for that part. Maybe we pretend you are very sick and it's contagious and I carry you out and if anyone stops us we tell them that we're trying not to get anyone else in camp sick? Maybe that's a terrible idea. I'm all ears for a better one though."
Jalt looks at Okkie. Of course I'll pray with you. Jalt places a hand on Okkie's shoulder. Great Bahamut, smile down upon your faithful servants in this moment. Give your son, Okkie the clarity of mind and spirit to find a resolution to what troubles him. May he find the power of your grace to guide him and to protect over his friend and mine.
Hoard of the Dragon Queen - Jalt Rhogar - Dragonborn Cleric (9)
"Ive heard it both ways."
Breena, Soar and Elspeth continue move along the main road, though there are fewer and fewer people around as night is setting in.
12
This time, you don't encounter anyone who pays you any attention as you move through the dark night air; just a couple of kobolds coming the other way, hoods pulled up and evidently as keen to avoid contact as you are.
You get closer, and before you you can see what turns out to be two distinct camps. The one on the left is clearly reserved for those wearing similar robes and garb to the cultists you have encountered, and the other on the right seems the same as the mercenary camp you have already seen. The cultist camp looks larger, the mercenary camp about the same size as the last one. Around the mercenary tents, there is little movement. However, there are torches everywhere around the cultists' tents, set into the ground on large wooden poles. The area is relatively bright - for a dark night - and its clear that whatever the cultists are doing, they are not stopping for nightfall; people are bustling around, some carrying equipment, and making a fair amount of noise.
Do you wish to approach either camp?
Soar will approach the camp with the cultists in a way that matches the manner in which the people she's already seen have been entering. She'll try to stay out of the direct light, but since she knows this is what they came here for, she gulps and steps forward, hoping for the best. What equipment are they carrying? What do they appear to be doing? If there's a way for her to grab something similar and look busy and unobtrusive, she'll do that. And if there's a tent that seems important, she'll try to find a back corner to pause at and look at the spider on her shoulder with meaning, pausing enough for it to scurry in.
Soar, you approach the camp, with Breena in tow and SpiderElspeth perched upon your shoulders, but hiding in the folds of your cloak and hair to avoid being spotted.
You enter the camp; people are busy, too busy to pay you much attention at first. In the centre is a short woman who is barking orders; she carries a long stick and from time to time she lashes out with it at those she considers to be moving too slowly or in the wrong direction. She is wearing cultist garb, as is pretty much everyone around here. No-one is sitting around and chatting.
A few people are resting in tents, which you now notice have a clear dragon design on them. There is no tent here that seems to be particularly large or important. One tent near you has a sleeping woman you can just see through the tent flaps; another appears to be empty, and the flaps are wide open. As you look, two cultists come towards you carrying a pile of what appears to be dirty laundry, but they pass right by without even looking at you; behind you, you hear a thump, and then a voice.
Oh, my apologies.
No harm done friend, let me help you with that.
Thank you, sister. Praise Tiamat.
Praise Tiamat.
They apparently move on, and a large half-orc woman overtakes you and heads towards the centre of the encampment and then continues on through the other side.
You stand in the relative darkness, the camp bustling around you but no-one passing between the tents where you stand. You can make a Perception check to attempt to count the tents and people if you wish.
What would you like to do?
Jalt, Okkie joins your prayer. Greatest of dragons, watch over our friends and deliver them from the madness that threatens to swallow them.
As the prayer ends, the kobold opens his eyes and then opens them wider as he looks over your shoulder. Patrol, he whispers sharply, and he pulls you further down to the ground.
Jalt is pulled down further and he whispers to Okkie. How many?
Hoard of the Dragon Queen - Jalt Rhogar - Dragonborn Cleric (9)
"Ive heard it both ways."
Don't know. Usually two. Maybe two today. Don't know. Quiet!
Jalt, make a Perception check. As this relies entirely on hearing and not sight, make a regular roll, not disadvantage.