You would notice now, that battle is not happening, the rear guard has very different clothing than the first cultists you fought... These raiders are distinctly different from the earlier stragglers. All are dressed in similar (but not identical) black leather tunics with flared, black mantles.
Taviel approached the dead woman and checked the mantel. "Can not say I am against of expanding my wardrobe," she picked up the mantel cleaned it with a spell and tried on, "but now we have a dilemma - to pretend we are low ranks marouding group, or to go big and play the rear guards." She though for a second: "Not sure I like how it sounds, though."
"Main enemy more organized than we thought. Prefer just stealth in and deal with what is in front of us when we meet it." Naroth says as he starts to search the bodies for anything important.
Toc whips the limited blood off his swords, and then begins cleaning his blades before he sheaths them. His multiple images vanish. "I could use with a short rest before continuing. My arsenal of spells is easily used up. Too bad we didn't take any prisoners. We are barely more informed of our enemy than before it seems. Regardless, I disagree Naroth, I believe, more than ever that infiltrating their forces are important. If they are well organized, and have spell casters, then pure stealth will limit what we can learn, and eventually someone always slips up and makes some noise, and a frontal assault is bound to fail, especially if they have dragons fighting with them. I believe our approach here was useful. Limited numbers attempting to infiltrate, and others as backup. I will try not to ruin the situation next time with my apparent clumsiness."
He picks at the clothes of the dead, "Indeed, we should upgrade our disguises; those of you who are impersonating them."
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Germain will start looking through the bodies, "I don't think I"ll bother, I don't think the armor will fit over what I"m wearing and if I need to, I can always disguise myself with magic."
"An upgrade it is!" New mantel was better anyway. "What do you think she" (Taviel pointed at the dead cultist)"meant by - "I will tell the queen of dragons of this when I meet here"? She talked as if Tiamat is already here. But sure such event would be known to every sage of Sword Coast."
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Valen looks over the dead and picks out a new set of clothes from one of the bigger ones. "Seems like we will be going in disguise then..." he says as he puts it on.
Toc considers, "I think she was a zealot, knew she couldn't defeat us, but decided to fight to the death rather than surrender. I think she was assuming her soul would be granted an audience with the dragon queen in the afterlife, so that the dragon queen could hear all about those who'd wronged her in her life. Including us. Silly. But, it unfortunately means that whomever has mobilized this cult has done an effective job converting people. They seem willing to die for the cause of....building a horde for a god who will never appreciate their sacrifices."
Toc sits down and as the others fix up their disguises he has a short rest. (1 hour). (This recovers his use of bladesong, and use arcane recovery to get a 2nd level spell slot back.)
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
What's the difference between a Wizard and a Sorcerer? Class.
"Too silly, even for a cultist," Taviel was quite skeptical about such an after-life conversation. "If you are right here, I almost prefer summoned Tiamat over ... that. Idiots are hard to deal with as they are, but devoted idiots is a pure catastrophe!"
She took the holy symbol from Germain and pushed one of the cloaks into his hands: "Here, the cloak would not ruin your style but at least from afar we will look like those ... guards." Taviel did not even touch the weapon or armour, hoping, the mantel will be convincing enough. Then she sat down away from the dead bodies - just to give some rest to the legs, who knows how far the rest of the army is.
(34 gp is 6,80 each. Unless someone is planning to pocket everything we come across, we can simply divide coins equally)
After taking a short break you continue following the path of the raiders. Eventually you come upon their camp.
The cultists have set up their camp in the hollow of a rocky plateau that’s shaped roughly like a horseshoe. The lower portion of the plateau rises gently from the surrounding land, but it quickly steepens and ascends to a height of 150 feet above the landscape. Boulders form jumbled heaps at the bases of the cliffs. The level shelves and top of the plateau are covered in long grass, and brush and scrubby trees grow in patches.
General Features
Boulders. The boulders are difficult terrain and provide three-quarters cover.
Brush. The brush around the site grows to a height of 4 to 6 feet. It is tough and dense, making it difficult terrain and providing three-quarters cover to targets sheltering among it.
Caves. The steep sides of the plateau are dotted with shallow caves. Boulders or brush conveniently conceals many of the cave mouths. Characters who need to take a long rest can easily find a secure cave in which to hide.
Guard Towers. The cultists have built two guard towers at the camp, one at the entrance to the hollow and one atop the plateau. These towers are 20 feet high and made from rough timbers lashed together with rope. They are large enough for a few lookouts.
Slopes. The sides of the plateau rise sharply, while the floor of the hollow slopes up gradually toward the east. A long ladder is lashed to the cliff so guards can reach the upper guard tower.
The cliffs have handholds and footholds for climbing, so no die roll is needed under normal circumstances. If characters are in a hurry, a successful DC 10 Strength (Athletics) check is needed to make the climb without falling. If characters are concerned about keeping quiet, then a successful DC 10 Dexterity (Stealth) check ensures that no rocks break loose and rattle down.
Tents. The raiders live in circular huts made from closely spaced wooden or bone poles covered in hide, mud, and sod. Huts vary in diameter from 10 feet to 25 feet, and in height from 5 feet to 10 feet. Those in the mouth of the hollow are crudely built and decorated with animal skulls. Camp Alertness
Slower members of the raiding party and walking wounded straggle into camp all through the day after the raid. The situation at the camp is confused and security is lax. No one challenges latecomers for passwords or security signals.
Toc looks down upon the encampment, taking it all in, and then ducks back into some brush for cover, summoning the rest of the party to him. Can Toc take a rough guess of how many people might be at the camp?
"Alright. They are quite well established, with strong numbers, though disorganized after their raid and a good target for a military body. We're Harpers, not a strike force. I don't think we will be attacking this outpost today. Let me know if anyone disagrees and feels like dying in a rather inglorious battle against too much rabble. Otherwise, it seems like infiltration has suddenly become our best option. I can use spells to make myself look the part, as can Germain. Taviel is dressed the part as is Valen." Toc's eyes wander over to Naroth, the odd man out. "Hmmm, anyone have any ideas about this guy? He could just be with us...they may assume he's with them...though...he draws a lot of attention. Too much perhaps. Or Naroth could scout around the edges while we infiltrate. Naroth, any preferences?"
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
What's the difference between a Wizard and a Sorcerer? Class.
Naroth thinks for a moment, "I am not all that great at being stealthy, especially with the current armor I am wearing. Subtlety is also not my strong suite but I think I can get away with just making them believe I am part of the group and walk my way in. As much as I stand out if I am surrounded by the likes of you I should be fine. I will just play the part of a big dumb brute."
"Naroth can come with me and still play himself - I mean, the brute force, as my bodyguard or something." Taviel (that did not dive into the brush but was standing near by) looked at the whole camp with a disgust: "it's huge, I give them that. Do not understand, how can something so big escaped attention of the searching parties. But ... those tents! This is insulting to even look at. Hope someone of our current stature had some cleaner lodgings among those disgusting shelters."
"Well, there is no point of standing here or hiding, we will only raise suspicion. Let's go in and look around" With that Taviel confidently moves in, trying to maintain the look of someone who belongs here (or even owns at least some of it). She would walk around searching for cultists that look talkative (who sits around fire, or at some common eating place, or got curious about her pet (Nissa was with her still) - something like this), the missing monk, and just looking for general layout of the camp.
Naroth will follow along behind Taviel, keeping his head on a swivel to look for anyone paying particular attention to them. Otherwise he will remain silent and act the part of a bodyguard.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
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Back to Germain, only the vet is left.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/irj9qof9ifvv0l2/hdq map 3.xlsx?dl=0
Germain will enter the clearing and release another blast from his gauntlet, "Die, or surrender."
Attack: 23 Damage: 11
The lightning blast hits the vet but she grimaces with determination. "I will tell the queen of dragons of this when I meet here..." She snarls.
Valen steps in and slashes with his glaive, then twirls it to strike with the other end as well. "So be it." He informs her.
To hit: 17
Damage: 9 and 4 lightning.
To hit: 26
Damage: 7 and 3 lightning.
Valen's first strike slashes into the vet's side, but the followup caves in her skull. She falls to the ground, dead.
Combat is over.
You would notice now, that battle is not happening, the rear guard has very different clothing than the first cultists you fought... These raiders are distinctly different from the earlier stragglers. All are dressed in similar (but not identical) black leather tunics with flared, black mantles.
Taviel approached the dead woman and checked the mantel. "Can not say I am against of expanding my wardrobe," she picked up the mantel cleaned it with a spell and tried on, "but now we have a dilemma - to pretend we are low ranks marouding group, or to go big and play the rear guards." She though for a second: "Not sure I like how it sounds, though."
Meili Liang Lvl 5 Monk
Dice
"Main enemy more organized than we thought. Prefer just stealth in and deal with what is in front of us when we meet it." Naroth says as he starts to search the bodies for anything important.
Investigation: 2
Toc whips the limited blood off his swords, and then begins cleaning his blades before he sheaths them. His multiple images vanish. "I could use with a short rest before continuing. My arsenal of spells is easily used up. Too bad we didn't take any prisoners. We are barely more informed of our enemy than before it seems. Regardless, I disagree Naroth, I believe, more than ever that infiltrating their forces are important. If they are well organized, and have spell casters, then pure stealth will limit what we can learn, and eventually someone always slips up and makes some noise, and a frontal assault is bound to fail, especially if they have dragons fighting with them. I believe our approach here was useful. Limited numbers attempting to infiltrate, and others as backup. I will try not to ruin the situation next time with my apparent clumsiness."
He picks at the clothes of the dead, "Indeed, we should upgrade our disguises; those of you who are impersonating them."
What's the difference between a Wizard and a Sorcerer?
Class.
Germain will start looking through the bodies, "I don't think I"ll bother, I don't think the armor will fit over what I"m wearing and if I need to, I can always disguise myself with magic."
Investigation: 14
"An upgrade it is!" New mantel was better anyway. "What do you think she" (Taviel pointed at the dead cultist)"meant by - "I will tell the queen of dragons of this when I meet here"? She talked as if Tiamat is already here. But sure such event would be known to every sage of Sword Coast."
Meili Liang Lvl 5 Monk
Dice
Valen looks over the dead and picks out a new set of clothes from one of the bigger ones. "Seems like we will be going in disguise then..." he says as he puts it on.
From the dead you find...
13 spears
1 longsword (vet.)
1 short sword (vet)
2 clubs (acolytes)
2 holy symbols (acolytes.)
1 set of chain mail (vet.)
6 sets of leather armor.
18 GP worth of coins.
Germain will have no use for the weapons, but would pocket one of the holy symbols, just in case, handing the other to Taviel.
Toc considers, "I think she was a zealot, knew she couldn't defeat us, but decided to fight to the death rather than surrender. I think she was assuming her soul would be granted an audience with the dragon queen in the afterlife, so that the dragon queen could hear all about those who'd wronged her in her life. Including us. Silly. But, it unfortunately means that whomever has mobilized this cult has done an effective job converting people. They seem willing to die for the cause of....building a horde for a god who will never appreciate their sacrifices."
Toc sits down and as the others fix up their disguises he has a short rest. (1 hour). (This recovers his use of bladesong, and use arcane recovery to get a 2nd level spell slot back.)
What's the difference between a Wizard and a Sorcerer?
Class.
"Too silly, even for a cultist," Taviel was quite skeptical about such an after-life conversation. "If you are right here, I almost prefer summoned Tiamat over ... that. Idiots are hard to deal with as they are, but devoted idiots is a pure catastrophe!"
She took the holy symbol from Germain and pushed one of the cloaks into his hands: "Here, the cloak would not ruin your style but at least from afar we will look like those ... guards." Taviel did not even touch the weapon or armour, hoping, the mantel will be convincing enough. Then she sat down away from the dead bodies - just to give some rest to the legs, who knows how far the rest of the army is.
(34 gp is 6,80 each. Unless someone is planning to pocket everything we come across, we can simply divide coins equally)
Meili Liang Lvl 5 Monk
Dice
After taking a short break you continue following the path of the raiders. Eventually you come upon their camp.
The cultists have set up their camp in the hollow of a rocky plateau that’s shaped roughly like a horseshoe. The lower portion of the plateau rises gently from the surrounding land, but it quickly steepens and ascends to a height of 150 feet above the landscape. Boulders form jumbled heaps at the bases of the cliffs. The level shelves and top of the plateau are covered in long grass, and brush and scrubby trees grow in patches.
General Features
Boulders. The boulders are difficult terrain and provide three-quarters cover.
Brush. The brush around the site grows to a height of 4 to 6 feet. It is tough and dense, making it difficult terrain and providing three-quarters cover to targets sheltering among it.
Caves. The steep sides of the plateau are dotted with shallow caves. Boulders or brush conveniently conceals many of the cave mouths. Characters who need to take a long rest can easily find a secure cave in which to hide.
Guard Towers. The cultists have built two guard towers at the camp, one at the entrance to the hollow and one atop the plateau. These towers are 20 feet high and made from rough timbers lashed together with rope. They are large enough for a few lookouts.
Slopes. The sides of the plateau rise sharply, while the floor of the hollow slopes up gradually toward the east. A long ladder is lashed to the cliff so guards can reach the upper guard tower.
The cliffs have handholds and footholds for climbing, so no die roll is needed under normal circumstances. If characters are in a hurry, a successful DC 10 Strength (Athletics) check is needed to make the climb without falling. If characters are concerned about keeping quiet, then a successful DC 10 Dexterity (Stealth) check ensures that no rocks break loose and rattle down.
Tents. The raiders live in circular huts made from closely spaced wooden or bone poles covered in hide, mud, and sod. Huts vary in diameter from 10 feet to 25 feet, and in height from 5 feet to 10 feet. Those in the mouth of the hollow are crudely built and decorated with animal skulls.
Camp Alertness
Slower members of the raiding party and walking wounded straggle into camp all through the day after the raid. The situation at the camp is confused and security is lax. No one challenges latecomers for passwords or security signals.
Gazing out at the encampment Naroth will try to look for the better looking tents where the leaders might be staying.
Perception: 6
Toc looks down upon the encampment, taking it all in, and then ducks back into some brush for cover, summoning the rest of the party to him. Can Toc take a rough guess of how many people might be at the camp?
"Alright. They are quite well established, with strong numbers, though disorganized after their raid and a good target for a military body. We're Harpers, not a strike force. I don't think we will be attacking this outpost today. Let me know if anyone disagrees and feels like dying in a rather inglorious battle against too much rabble. Otherwise, it seems like infiltration has suddenly become our best option. I can use spells to make myself look the part, as can Germain. Taviel is dressed the part as is Valen." Toc's eyes wander over to Naroth, the odd man out. "Hmmm, anyone have any ideas about this guy? He could just be with us...they may assume he's with them...though...he draws a lot of attention. Too much perhaps. Or Naroth could scout around the edges while we infiltrate. Naroth, any preferences?"
What's the difference between a Wizard and a Sorcerer?
Class.
Naroth thinks for a moment, "I am not all that great at being stealthy, especially with the current armor I am wearing. Subtlety is also not my strong suite but I think I can get away with just making them believe I am part of the group and walk my way in. As much as I stand out if I am surrounded by the likes of you I should be fine. I will just play the part of a big dumb brute."
"Naroth can come with me and still play himself - I mean, the brute force, as my bodyguard or something." Taviel (that did not dive into the brush but was standing near by) looked at the whole camp with a disgust: "it's huge, I give them that. Do not understand, how can something so big escaped attention of the searching parties. But ... those tents! This is insulting to even look at. Hope someone of our current stature had some cleaner lodgings among those disgusting shelters."
"Well, there is no point of standing here or hiding, we will only raise suspicion. Let's go in and look around" With that Taviel confidently moves in, trying to maintain the look of someone who belongs here (or even owns at least some of it). She would walk around searching for cultists that look talkative (who sits around fire, or at some common eating place, or got curious about her pet (Nissa was with her still) - something like this), the missing monk, and just looking for general layout of the camp.
Meili Liang Lvl 5 Monk
Dice
Naroth will follow along behind Taviel, keeping his head on a swivel to look for anyone paying particular attention to them. Otherwise he will remain silent and act the part of a bodyguard.