Kipio's eyes, which are well adjusted to darkness, are able to pick out a large structure to the south east of the keep which could plausibly be a temple.
Governor Nighthill listens to your introductions. He takes the coin from Evendur when it is mentioned. "My thanks. The people will need this. We have so much to rebuild." He tucks it in a belt pouch. "You five have acted bravely it seems. I would gladly accept your assistance in defending this town, and your offer of medical aid,"he adds, looking at Kipio. "And I agree that the prisoners need to be interrogated. This is more than a mere raid. They brought a dragon. We need to know what we're up against. So let's get some answers from these people, and then see what else you five can do to help."
Valas bows slightly to Governor Nighthill and takes a step back, hoping others will handle the initial interrogating. He does linger nearby however, listening intently while cleaning off his sword, clothing, boots, etc. with Prestidigitation.
"It will be our genuine pleasure Governor Nighthill. Brave Kosef, would you join me while I question our prisoners, the mere sight of your mighty blade will surely strike fear in their hearts"
Evendur then walks over to the prisoners, giving them each a slap to make shure they are conscious, then adressing the human raider.
"Ahem, servant of the dragon, I am Sir Evendur Archebolde and you are our prisoners. You will face punishment for your actions here tonight but your life will be spared if you share all information you have on your organization, your leadership and your intentions"
Remembering the kobold probably didn´t understand the common tongue he then gives him the same speech in draconic.
(Assuming Kosef gives the help action, and that the prisoners noticed Kosefs earlier head lopping activities I will roll with advantage, otherwise go with first roll as per ususal)
Interrogate human: 9
Interrogate kobold: 22
(Well, at least the kobold might give us something, anyone else want to have a go at the human, Evendur can walk away so you can do what you must)
The kobold is filled with panic. It starts talking in a wild manner. "We want treasure! Because the dragon lady told us to. She is part of a cult. Cult of the Dragon! Please don't kill me!"
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Kosef will stand by Evendur and take the help action by looming. He does display his blade, still bloody. Occasionally, he will touch the sword which has probably gotten sticky as the blood dries.
After the kobold speaks, he will lean forward toward the human and whisper in his ear. "Do you want this to be your death? I promise you it will be unless you speak. What has the kobold left out?" He makes a point of letting the sticky flat of the blade rest against some part of the human's body, probably legs. He tries to be intimidating: 17
Kendes hunches his shoulders over at the mention of the Dragon Cult. He weighs his options, wondering whether or not informing his new-found and very righteous companions of his family‘s former trade will result in him being interrogated just as harshly as the prisoners.
(How much does Kendes know about the Dragon Cult here from his background? What can he offer to this conversation? Does he know either of the two prisoners personally, or where to find the cultists?)
The human trembles at Kosef's threat. "The kobold is truthful about us being part of the Cult of the Dragon. We are gathering a hoard of treasure for the mighty Tiamat, to usher in her reign. We have dragon eggs at our camp. That is all I know."
Kendes knows they are a cult who used to try to make undead dragons to fulfill a prophecy. Recently, their goals changed and they have been seeking a lot of treasure. The cult works in cells of varying size. The leaders of the cult are Wearers of Purple who wear purple. Cultists have special clothing and ceremonies, but they do not use them outside of their safe areas. The cult hires plenty of mercenaries to do their work for them, but some are loyal cultists.
Kendes is not sure where this cell is currently located.
Kendes could recognize the human prisoner, but not the kobold. The human prisoner is called Elthar if you want to know him. He is a cultist who just does as he is told and avoids complicated moral quandaries.
Evendur prepared to use harsh language when Kosef discreetely convinces the human to speak.
"Oh, hah, decided to talk did you? My stern gaze was to much for the likes of you it seems. By Torm, I have been longing to meet Tiamat in battle and my brave companions will help me to defeat her. So you are just here to plunder then." Evendur takes a threatening step toward the cultist."Now where is this camp you speak of vile cultist?"
Kendes approaches the human prisoner and squats down by his side, catching his eye. He waits. Then he says, carefully, “You don‘t wear any color. You know you‘re just a rank and file. If you just continue to do as you‘re told, and you‘ll come out of this better than the rest of your friends did. But this time, you‘ll be following our orders, not your leaders. Will you cooperate with us? Or are you so devoted to your cult that you‘d chose death? You know that dragon overhead doesn‘t care if you burn with the rest of us down here.“
Kosef leans back. He is glad Kendes is taking this approach, but he keeps his face as still as stone. If they can turn the human or the kobold they, or the governor, could have a knowledgeable alley.
But he also wonders what Kendes means by color. What does it have to do with the dragon cult? Tiamat? Dragon eggs? This could be a disaster.
The cult of the Dragon, Tiamat, this was a lot for Evendur to take in. He took a step back, deciding his companions could handle the rest of the questioning, they seemed to have convincing arguments. But didn´t The cult of the dragon venerate dead dragons? There was a lot of this that didn´t make sense to Evendur but he was used to that. He wasn´t used to doubt however, but it must have been Torms will that he´d face this dragon tonight, wasn´t it? But doubt was at best a dangerous distraction and right now he needed to focus on the task that Torm had set before him.
Then turning to Kipio in an attempt to display an aura of confidence.
"Yes brave Kipio, I agree with your assessment of our current situation, but we must face one challenge at a time, and right now it would be helping these villagers the best we can, and Torm has watched over us this far, hasn´t he"
Evendur looks down on the anguishing villagers in the courtyard below and his resolve strengthens.
A man suddenly emerges from the crowd below and hurries up the stairs to the parapet. "Milord, you are safe, Torm be blessed"
"Ah, Randal my brave squire, good of you to join us, now go and see to Bayard, I must be prepared to ride out again, if only to draw the raiders attention if they decide to attack the keep, don´t tarry."
"But milord, you are wounded"
"Oh, yes, you´d better see to that as well Randal"
The squire kneels before the knight and starts tending to his wound.
"And Randal, I´m glad you made it" now warmth in the knight's voice.
The squire looks up briefly in appreciation "Yes milord, thank you milord" and then continues with tending to the stabbed ankle.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Valas listens intently but looks away from the slapping or any other violence amidst the interrogations. When Cult of the Dragon and Tiamat are mentioned, he takes an even greater interest.
History as a 'Dragon Scholar' to see what Valas might know about the Cult or Tiamat that the average person would not: 18
Alternative Background Feature: Dragon Scholar: You have studied dragons and their lore for many years. You can automatically identify locations built or used by dragons and can identify dragon eggs and scales by sight. If you fail an intelligence check to recall lore relating to dragons, you know someone or some book you could consult fir the answer, unless the DM rules that the lore is unknown.
The cultist looks at Kendes defiantly, and says in a trembling voice, "Tiamat will rise and destroy you all. I will not betray my leaders, or my goddess." He then glances between Kendes, Kosef, and Evendur, fearing the worst.
"I don't think you'll get much more from him," Governor Nighthill says. "But I have another task for you. The raiders have cut off the keep from the town, but they don't seem to be attacking. They are after our treasure in the town. If we can get people into the keep, they should be safe. I need you five to help with that."
When Nighthill is done speaking Escobert says "I can think of just the mission for you, too. No one has seen Eadyan, the priest. We need to get to the temple and see if anyone there is still alive. I'll take you five to the tunnel if you want to help with that." He then looks at Kipio. "I know you wanted to help with the wounded, but Eadyan can help too. Once he's back, you two can help the people here as much as you like. But we need our priest."
For Valas
Tiamat is the five-headed goddess of chromatic dragons. She is currently trapped in the nine hells.
"Of course,"Kendes says. "I... know a little about these cultists," he tells the governor uncertainly. "They often hire mercenaries who have little loyalty to their cause. But the true believers... like that one, over there... they display their rank using colored robes. So... if you see one dressed in purple robes, that's a snake head likely worth severing."
Kipio's eyes, which are well adjusted to darkness, are able to pick out a large structure to the south east of the keep which could plausibly be a temple.
Governor Nighthill listens to your introductions. He takes the coin from Evendur when it is mentioned. "My thanks. The people will need this. We have so much to rebuild." He tucks it in a belt pouch. "You five have acted bravely it seems. I would gladly accept your assistance in defending this town, and your offer of medical aid," he adds, looking at Kipio. "And I agree that the prisoners need to be interrogated. This is more than a mere raid. They brought a dragon. We need to know what we're up against. So let's get some answers from these people, and then see what else you five can do to help."
Valas bows slightly to Governor Nighthill and takes a step back, hoping others will handle the initial interrogating. He does linger nearby however, listening intently while cleaning off his sword, clothing, boots, etc. with Prestidigitation.
"It will be our genuine pleasure Governor Nighthill. Brave Kosef, would you join me while I question our prisoners, the mere sight of your mighty blade will surely strike fear in their hearts"
Evendur then walks over to the prisoners, giving them each a slap to make shure they are conscious, then adressing the human raider.
"Ahem, servant of the dragon, I am Sir Evendur Archebolde and you are our prisoners. You will face punishment for your actions here tonight but your life will be spared if you share all information you have on your organization, your leadership and your intentions"
Remembering the kobold probably didn´t understand the common tongue he then gives him the same speech in draconic.
(Assuming Kosef gives the help action, and that the prisoners noticed Kosefs earlier head lopping activities I will roll with advantage, otherwise go with first roll as per ususal)
Interrogate human: 9
Interrogate kobold: 22
(Well, at least the kobold might give us something, anyone else want to have a go at the human, Evendur can walk away so you can do what you must)
The kobold is filled with panic. It starts talking in a wild manner. "We want treasure! Because the dragon lady told us to. She is part of a cult. Cult of the Dragon! Please don't kill me!"
The human says nothing.
Kosef will stand by Evendur and take the help action by looming. He does display his blade, still bloody. Occasionally, he will touch the sword which has probably gotten sticky as the blood dries.
After the kobold speaks, he will lean forward toward the human and whisper in his ear. "Do you want this to be your death? I promise you it will be unless you speak. What has the kobold left out?" He makes a point of letting the sticky flat of the blade rest against some part of the human's body, probably legs. He tries to be intimidating: 17
Death on the Water and Baldur's Gate Bodyguard
Kendes hunches his shoulders over at the mention of the Dragon Cult. He weighs his options, wondering whether or not informing his new-found and very righteous companions of his family‘s former trade will result in him being interrogated just as harshly as the prisoners.
(How much does Kendes know about the Dragon Cult here from his background? What can he offer to this conversation? Does he know either of the two prisoners personally, or where to find the cultists?)
The human trembles at Kosef's threat. "The kobold is truthful about us being part of the Cult of the Dragon. We are gathering a hoard of treasure for the mighty Tiamat, to usher in her reign. We have dragon eggs at our camp. That is all I know."
For Kendes
Kendes knows they are a cult who used to try to make undead dragons to fulfill a prophecy. Recently, their goals changed and they have been seeking a lot of treasure. The cult works in cells of varying size. The leaders of the cult are Wearers of Purple who wear purple. Cultists have special clothing and ceremonies, but they do not use them outside of their safe areas. The cult hires plenty of mercenaries to do their work for them, but some are loyal cultists.
Kendes is not sure where this cell is currently located.
Kendes could recognize the human prisoner, but not the kobold. The human prisoner is called Elthar if you want to know him. He is a cultist who just does as he is told and avoids complicated moral quandaries.
Evendur prepared to use harsh language when Kosef discreetely convinces the human to speak.
"Oh, hah, decided to talk did you? My stern gaze was to much for the likes of you it seems. By Torm, I have been longing to meet Tiamat in battle and my brave companions will help me to defeat her. So you are just here to plunder then." Evendur takes a threatening step toward the cultist."Now where is this camp you speak of vile cultist?"
Kendes approaches the human prisoner and squats down by his side, catching his eye. He waits. Then he says, carefully, “You don‘t wear any color. You know you‘re just a rank and file. If you just continue to do as you‘re told, and you‘ll come out of this better than the rest of your friends did. But this time, you‘ll be following our orders, not your leaders. Will you cooperate with us? Or are you so devoted to your cult that you‘d chose death? You know that dragon overhead doesn‘t care if you burn with the rest of us down here.“
Kosef leans back. He is glad Kendes is taking this approach, but he keeps his face as still as stone. If they can turn the human or the kobold they, or the governor, could have a knowledgeable alley.
But he also wonders what Kendes means by color. What does it have to do with the dragon cult? Tiamat? Dragon eggs? This could be a disaster.
Death on the Water and Baldur's Gate Bodyguard
Kipio observes the interrogation doing his best to contain his worry. He squirms at the mention of Tiamat. "This is bad, very bad," he groans.
The cult of the Dragon, Tiamat, this was a lot for Evendur to take in. He took a step back, deciding his companions could handle the rest of the questioning, they seemed to have convincing arguments. But didn´t The cult of the dragon venerate dead dragons? There was a lot of this that didn´t make sense to Evendur but he was used to that. He wasn´t used to doubt however, but it must have been Torms will that he´d face this dragon tonight, wasn´t it? But doubt was at best a dangerous distraction and right now he needed to focus on the task that Torm had set before him.
Then turning to Kipio in an attempt to display an aura of confidence.
"Yes brave Kipio, I agree with your assessment of our current situation, but we must face one challenge at a time, and right now it would be helping these villagers the best we can, and Torm has watched over us this far, hasn´t he"
Evendur looks down on the anguishing villagers in the courtyard below and his resolve strengthens.
Kendes, make a persuasion roll.
Valas listens intently but looks away from the slapping or any other violence amidst the interrogations. When Cult of the Dragon and Tiamat are mentioned, he takes an even greater interest.
History as a 'Dragon Scholar' to see what Valas might know about the Cult or Tiamat that the average person would not: 18
Alternative Background Feature: Dragon Scholar: You have studied dragons and their lore for many years. You can automatically identify locations built or used by dragons and can identify dragon eggs and scales by sight. If you fail an intelligence check to recall lore relating to dragons, you know someone or some book you could consult fir the answer, unless the DM rules that the lore is unknown.
Kendes Persuasion: 2
The cultist looks at Kendes defiantly, and says in a trembling voice, "Tiamat will rise and destroy you all. I will not betray my leaders, or my goddess." He then glances between Kendes, Kosef, and Evendur, fearing the worst.
"I don't think you'll get much more from him," Governor Nighthill says. "But I have another task for you. The raiders have cut off the keep from the town, but they don't seem to be attacking. They are after our treasure in the town. If we can get people into the keep, they should be safe. I need you five to help with that."
When Nighthill is done speaking Escobert says "I can think of just the mission for you, too. No one has seen Eadyan, the priest. We need to get to the temple and see if anyone there is still alive. I'll take you five to the tunnel if you want to help with that." He then looks at Kipio. "I know you wanted to help with the wounded, but Eadyan can help too. Once he's back, you two can help the people here as much as you like. But we need our priest."
For Valas
Tiamat is the five-headed goddess of chromatic dragons. She is currently trapped in the nine hells.
"Of course," Kendes says. "I... know a little about these cultists," he tells the governor uncertainly. "They often hire mercenaries who have little loyalty to their cause. But the true believers... like that one, over there... they display their rank using colored robes. So... if you see one dressed in purple robes, that's a snake head likely worth severing."
An conversation can be heard from where Randal is finishing up tending to Sir Evendurs wound.
"To the tunnel he says? Why do you think the village have an underground temple Randal? Sounds sinister to me."
"No milord, I believe you are to be taken to a tunnel so that you can secretly exit the keep."
"Secretly exit the keep? Well if it would help saving villagers, so be it"
"Yes milord, of course milord, also milord I believe Greenest to be a town and not a village"
"Well Greenest will be neither nor I´m afraid if we don´t get going Randal"
"Yes milord"
Evendur then walks up to Escobert. "Take us to the tunnel castellan."