After several moments of careful observation, Valas notices that no one else is wearing the special black cultist tunics. Everyone is wearing ordinary clothes.
When Evendur and Kosef enter the camp, they walk past several tents. The tents are crudely built, and adorned with animal skulls. Kobolds are entering and exiting the tents, and some are preparing food. Up ahead there are some cultists who are talking about how well the raid went.
When realizing no one is wearing the tunics Evendur slows down and turns to the others and speaks in an uncharacteristically low voice. "Should we take these off perhaps before continuing?"
(OOC: Oh, I see, well that was kind of unexpected. I suppose Evendur would have noticed pretty quick as he entered the camp. Is there anything at all marking the people in the camp as cultists? Perception if needed:12 I suppose we could just bluff and try to get the info we need, or we could try to take a prisoner in one of the tents to interrogate. Or perhaps Kendes and Valas will just sneak around and get what we want. I will wait for response this time, promise :-)
Evendur does see some people making cult-like gestures when speaking to one another (a few people have been spotted holding out their arms with their five fingers spread out). He also notices a scarred gnome holding an amulet with Tiamat's symbol in it who is healing the injuries of a wounded human.
While he ponders what to do, a pair of red-haired cultists pass by, one of them being supported by the other. The healthier one stops and speaks to Evendur and Kosef. "That was a tougher raid than we expected. Did you get good treasure?" He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a ring with a ruby in it. "This, and a few coins, were all we found."
Evendur stops and composes himself to get into character. "Yes, we will need more than that to usher in the reign of Tiamat. We took this off a sanctimonious knight doing a futile attempt to defend the town." Evendur produces his own purse containing 59 pieces of gold. "I would be prepared to share some of it with someone less fortunate in the raid, but I´m supposed to check up on our prisoners and then report to our commander. Since we were transferred for this raid we are new to this locations and could do with some directions." Evendur adds in a commanding tone expecting lowly cultists to be used to follow orders from someone apparently more important, but also fingers some coins in his purse to create another incentive to share information. Intimidation:15 Deception:17 (rolled both with advantage hoping for help action from Fesok)
(OOC: Well, sorry but it seems that Rudneve and Fesok will have to play this out. Valas and Kendes can join if they want or they can just sneak around I suppose. Maybe that is better, not putting all eggs in one basket.)
Fesok will try to help Rudneve. He will stick his great sword into the ground by its point, fold his thick-wristed arms, and loom over the two cultists.
He is watching for more of the signals, having noticed the five-fingered hand gesture. He also watches for Valas and Kendes, to see if they are sneaking or if they have each taken a different approach.
Valas dons the cultist garb and makes sure his coin pouch is close at hand. He plans to sneak into the camp amidst the boulders and tall brush to get a different look at all of the tents and caves. He wants to try to find the non-kobold tents, perhaps those large enough for prisoners. He also wants a better look at who enters the caves and how often. He asks Xymor to find a well hidden location and alert him only if he's close enough and something is up, and also to cause a loud distraction if something really bad happens such as party members being discovered as intruders. Lastly, the wizard prepares a Sleep just in case he is discovered.
Stealth: 59
Readied Action: Cast Sleep only if discovered by someone who's sudden fall into sleep could be covered up, such as if Valas and this person are at the edge of camp or behind a tent alone. (No point in putting one or two of ten guys to sleep, or dropping someone in the open in the middle of the camp.)
The red haired cultist looks at Evendur/Rudneve's coins greedily. "I'm glad to hear you took it off one of those knights. They're always riding around in their special armour and stamping out our "cults". It's nice to know his coins will be joining great Tiamat's hoard. The prisoners are probably doing work for the camp, but they should be back in this part of the camp by night fall. Most of them stay in that hut over there." He points in the direction of a poorly constructed hut with a human skull decoration. "As for our commander, Rezmir is in charge of the camp, but day-to-day operations are overseen by Mondath. You can find both of them at the back of the camp." He then waits expectantly for Evendur to give him some money.
Kosef notices one cultist make the hand sign, but with only three fingers instead of all five.
Xymor flies off to a well-hidden spot, and Valas sneaks into the camp, hiding in the brush. The caves closest to the entrance of the hollow are shallow. Valas spots one kobold taking a nap in a cave, but nothing else of interest. Valas sneaks past the poorly constructed tents of the kobolds, and spots cleaner tents with dragon designs painted on them. Humans come and go from these tents.
OOC: Kendes can follow Valas or accompany Kosef and Evendur. It can be Enkida's choice upon return, and I will just ignore it for now.
Kosef has likely heard tales of Tiamat, the five-headed goddess of evil dragons. He suspects that the five fingers could represent her five heads, and maybe holding down two fingers represents something about her current state.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
"You are a true servant of Tiamat."Evendur says grabbing 10 pieces of gold from his purse. "How many of us are there at the camp now after the raid would you say?" He adds holding the coins ready to drop them in the red haired cultist hand. Another intimidation if needed:16 If given a reasonable answer he gives the coins to the cultist and moves on.
The red-haired man thinks for a moment. "I think there might be eighty or ninety of us humans, and maybe more kobolds than that," he says. He then takes Evendur's coins and guides his companion over to the gnome acolyte.
The sun is very low in the sky, and will set in less than an hour. About an hour after that it will be completely dark out.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
"So, Fesok you scallywag, let us wait then for these wretched prisoners so that we can torture them ruthlessly in glory of Tiamat." Evendur winks at Kosef and looks for a place to stay out of sight until nightfall. Perception:15
(OOC: I actually think we have the information we need. Now we just have to wait for the prisoners and try to escape with them during the night. Anything else we should take care of while we wait?)
"Yes, Rudneve," Kosef says. "Good plan." He has been watching the tent the red-head said was for prisoners, the one with the human skull outside it. Does it look empty or guarded? If he thinks it is empty and unguarded, he will suggest hiding in it until someone arrives.
Investigation: 10
Kosef is also watching for Valas and Kendes. If he spots them, he will try and discreetly signal a meeting.
Perception: 4 (OOC: Actually, it might not be mathematically possible for Kosef to perceive Valas right now.)
Kosef does not spot Valas, and he does not spot anyone guarding the prisoner tent either. Most people, as far as he can tell, are ignoring the tent and either going to their own tents (if human), or relaxing in the nearby tents after the return trip.
Valas patiently waits and watches, keeping an eye on his two companions out in the open as well. As the time goes on he also ponders how he has suddenly ended up in this situation after so many years living the life expected of him, for the most part, amongst the elves. He thus ponders what he will need to adapt to situations like this if he is to keep it up, leading him to the conclusion that he needs to learn a proper Invisibility spell!
In the meantime if he is to wait a while and if anyone could sneak up on him from behind Valas takes the time to set up a proper Alarm back where he couldn't see someone coming, and then ritually casts Detect Magic if any cultists or tents are nearby on the off chance that something interesting may be revealed within 30ft of him although he knows it is unlikely at the edge of the camp.
"Good thinking Fesok you rapscallion, let us wait in the prisoner tent so that we can cruelly and painfully torture the wretched prisoners as soon as they are back." Evendur says, winks again for good measure, and joins Kosef in the empty prisoner tent for now.
(OOC: So, are we going with the plan to wait until nightfall and then try to escape with the prisoners? I should guess there will be guards and perhaps some locks to be picked, but nothing Valas and Kendes couldn´t handle with sleep and lockpicks, right?.)
"What do you think, Rudneve, of hiding in the very tent the prisoners will be returned to?" Kosef says. "We will know of their return the moment it happens. Valas and Kendes are likely, because they are looking for prisoners as well, to be watching that tent as well. How does that sound?" he says.
Kosef/Fesok's CHA check: 11
Ouch.
Death on the Water and Baldur's Gate Bodyguard
After several moments of careful observation, Valas notices that no one else is wearing the special black cultist tunics. Everyone is wearing ordinary clothes.
When Evendur and Kosef enter the camp, they walk past several tents. The tents are crudely built, and adorned with animal skulls. Kobolds are entering and exiting the tents, and some are preparing food. Up ahead there are some cultists who are talking about how well the raid went.
When realizing no one is wearing the tunics Evendur slows down and turns to the others and speaks in an uncharacteristically low voice. "Should we take these off perhaps before continuing?"
(OOC: Oh, I see, well that was kind of unexpected. I suppose Evendur would have noticed pretty quick as he entered the camp. Is there anything at all marking the people in the camp as cultists? Perception if needed:12 I suppose we could just bluff and try to get the info we need, or we could try to take a prisoner in one of the tents to interrogate. Or perhaps Kendes and Valas will just sneak around and get what we want. I will wait for response this time, promise :-)
Evendur does see some people making cult-like gestures when speaking to one another (a few people have been spotted holding out their arms with their five fingers spread out). He also notices a scarred gnome holding an amulet with Tiamat's symbol in it who is healing the injuries of a wounded human.
While he ponders what to do, a pair of red-haired cultists pass by, one of them being supported by the other. The healthier one stops and speaks to Evendur and Kosef. "That was a tougher raid than we expected. Did you get good treasure?" He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a ring with a ruby in it. "This, and a few coins, were all we found."
Evendur stops and composes himself to get into character. "Yes, we will need more than that to usher in the reign of Tiamat. We took this off a sanctimonious knight doing a futile attempt to defend the town." Evendur produces his own purse containing 59 pieces of gold. "I would be prepared to share some of it with someone less fortunate in the raid, but I´m supposed to check up on our prisoners and then report to our commander. Since we were transferred for this raid we are new to this locations and could do with some directions." Evendur adds in a commanding tone expecting lowly cultists to be used to follow orders from someone apparently more important, but also fingers some coins in his purse to create another incentive to share information. Intimidation:15 Deception:17 (rolled both with advantage hoping for help action from Fesok)
(OOC: Well, sorry but it seems that Rudneve and Fesok will have to play this out. Valas and Kendes can join if they want or they can just sneak around I suppose. Maybe that is better, not putting all eggs in one basket.)
Fesok will try to help Rudneve. He will stick his great sword into the ground by its point, fold his thick-wristed arms, and loom over the two cultists.
He is watching for more of the signals, having noticed the five-fingered hand gesture. He also watches for Valas and Kendes, to see if they are sneaking or if they have each taken a different approach.
Death on the Water and Baldur's Gate Bodyguard
Valas dons the cultist garb and makes sure his coin pouch is close at hand. He plans to sneak into the camp amidst the boulders and tall brush to get a different look at all of the tents and caves. He wants to try to find the non-kobold tents, perhaps those large enough for prisoners. He also wants a better look at who enters the caves and how often. He asks Xymor to find a well hidden location and alert him only if he's close enough and something is up, and also to cause a loud distraction if something really bad happens such as party members being discovered as intruders. Lastly, the wizard prepares a Sleep just in case he is discovered.
Stealth: 59
Readied Action: Cast Sleep only if discovered by someone who's sudden fall into sleep could be covered up, such as if Valas and this person are at the edge of camp or behind a tent alone. (No point in putting one or two of ten guys to sleep, or dropping someone in the open in the middle of the camp.)
HAHA, oops! Stealth: 22
The red haired cultist looks at Evendur/Rudneve's coins greedily. "I'm glad to hear you took it off one of those knights. They're always riding around in their special armour and stamping out our "cults". It's nice to know his coins will be joining great Tiamat's hoard. The prisoners are probably doing work for the camp, but they should be back in this part of the camp by night fall. Most of them stay in that hut over there." He points in the direction of a poorly constructed hut with a human skull decoration. "As for our commander, Rezmir is in charge of the camp, but day-to-day operations are overseen by Mondath. You can find both of them at the back of the camp." He then waits expectantly for Evendur to give him some money.
Kosef notices one cultist make the hand sign, but with only three fingers instead of all five.
Xymor flies off to a well-hidden spot, and Valas sneaks into the camp, hiding in the brush. The caves closest to the entrance of the hollow are shallow. Valas spots one kobold taking a nap in a cave, but nothing else of interest. Valas sneaks past the poorly constructed tents of the kobolds, and spots cleaner tents with dragon designs painted on them. Humans come and go from these tents.
OOC: Kendes can follow Valas or accompany Kosef and Evendur. It can be Enkida's choice upon return, and I will just ignore it for now.
Kosef/Fesok will try to make sense of the hand signs he is noticing. He wishes he had a better knowledge of religion, but tries to figure it out:12
He plans to share what he has noticed with Evendur/Rudneve and the others as soon as he safely can.
Death on the Water and Baldur's Gate Bodyguard
Kosef has likely heard tales of Tiamat, the five-headed goddess of evil dragons. He suspects that the five fingers could represent her five heads, and maybe holding down two fingers represents something about her current state.
"You are a true servant of Tiamat." Evendur says grabbing 10 pieces of gold from his purse. "How many of us are there at the camp now after the raid would you say?" He adds holding the coins ready to drop them in the red haired cultist hand. Another intimidation if needed:16 If given a reasonable answer he gives the coins to the cultist and moves on.
(OOC: How long until nightfall?)
The red-haired man thinks for a moment. "I think there might be eighty or ninety of us humans, and maybe more kobolds than that," he says. He then takes Evendur's coins and guides his companion over to the gnome acolyte.
The sun is very low in the sky, and will set in less than an hour. About an hour after that it will be completely dark out.
"So, Fesok you scallywag, let us wait then for these wretched prisoners so that we can torture them ruthlessly in glory of Tiamat." Evendur winks at Kosef and looks for a place to stay out of sight until nightfall. Perception:15
(OOC: I actually think we have the information we need. Now we just have to wait for the prisoners and try to escape with them during the night. Anything else we should take care of while we wait?)
Evendur sees a lot of tents. Some have people outside, some have people inside, and some have people exiting them, and wandering off to do things.
"Yes, Rudneve," Kosef says. "Good plan." He has been watching the tent the red-head said was for prisoners, the one with the human skull outside it. Does it look empty or guarded? If he thinks it is empty and unguarded, he will suggest hiding in it until someone arrives.
Investigation: 10
Kosef is also watching for Valas and Kendes. If he spots them, he will try and discreetly signal a meeting.
Perception: 4 (OOC: Actually, it might not be mathematically possible for Kosef to perceive Valas right now.)
Death on the Water and Baldur's Gate Bodyguard
Kosef does not spot Valas, and he does not spot anyone guarding the prisoner tent either. Most people, as far as he can tell, are ignoring the tent and either going to their own tents (if human), or relaxing in the nearby tents after the return trip.
Valas patiently waits and watches, keeping an eye on his two companions out in the open as well. As the time goes on he also ponders how he has suddenly ended up in this situation after so many years living the life expected of him, for the most part, amongst the elves. He thus ponders what he will need to adapt to situations like this if he is to keep it up, leading him to the conclusion that he needs to learn a proper Invisibility spell!
In the meantime if he is to wait a while and if anyone could sneak up on him from behind Valas takes the time to set up a proper Alarm back where he couldn't see someone coming, and then ritually casts Detect Magic if any cultists or tents are nearby on the off chance that something interesting may be revealed within 30ft of him although he knows it is unlikely at the edge of the camp.
"Good thinking Fesok you rapscallion, let us wait in the prisoner tent so that we can cruelly and painfully torture the wretched prisoners as soon as they are back." Evendur says, winks again for good measure, and joins Kosef in the empty prisoner tent for now.
(OOC: So, are we going with the plan to wait until nightfall and then try to escape with the prisoners? I should guess there will be guards and perhaps some locks to be picked, but nothing Valas and Kendes couldn´t handle with sleep and lockpicks, right?.)
"What do you think, Rudneve, of hiding in the very tent the prisoners will be returned to?" Kosef says. "We will know of their return the moment it happens. Valas and Kendes are likely, because they are looking for prisoners as well, to be watching that tent as well. How does that sound?" he says.
Death on the Water and Baldur's Gate Bodyguard