To the half-orc:  Kenny nods along until the comments about bodyguards and dangers.  He sniffs with all the haughtiness he can muster.  "As if I had anything to fear from a common marsh troll."  He then pauses to twirl the end of his mustache like a villain in a carnival show.  "Still... the rest of my escort remains camped back up the road.  I believe Ivor planned for them to return to the caravan with news of my safe delivery and a scouting report on the condition of the road.  I'll send my man here to catch them and fetch a few more to accompany us to Naerytar."

He waves Evendur to accompany him back to the gate.  When they are alone outside, he acknowledges the comments about Rezmir.  "Go and bring back the others.  Our cover is solid, for now.  I don't think there's any need for Kendes to hide out here.  But ditch the prisoners.  Maybe send them north to Neverwinter?  Just get them out of here."

Once Evendur departs, Kenny will casually walk the grounds, like the most important man in the world inspecting his subordinates.

Evendur makes his way back to Kosef and Kendes, reporting on what has transpired at the roadhouse. "The prisoners must be dealt with now, can we trust them if we set them free?"

Kosef looks at Rizvik and Severin. "I don't know. Can we trust you?" He'll take his whetstone from his bag and begin sharpening his great sword. "I can be quick, if not. Quicker than the cult. Kendes and your own experience have given you reasons to not trust them. Will you swear, by what you hold holy, to be silent about us?"

Rizvik considers what Kendes says. "They used to tell us, my clutchmates and me, that we were special. Because of our magic. But they never let us rise any higher than the other kobolds. And we kobolds are clever. We make traps for them." He thinks for a moment and then says, "If you continue to fight the cult, you will likely fight more kobolds. And some of them may be my siblings. If you encounter any more sorcerer kobolds, perhaps you could try and convince them to follow another path."

Severin starts to panic when Kosef takes out his whetstone. "You can trust me. I swear to all the gods that I will never work with the cult. And I won't accept money for killing people anymore. Just please don't kill me. I'll be good." Rizvik also swears. "I swear by Kurtulmak* that I will have nothing more to do with the cult."

*Religion 15:

 The half-orc nods at Kenny. "I suppose a wizard like you would be able to defend himself against a troll. If you think you and your group will be able to pass through the marsh, then I am sure you will be fine. Come and get me when you are ready."

Kosef keeps his eyes on Rizvik and Severin, but moves a slight distance away from them. He hopes Everdur and Kendes will follow. "I'm willing to let them go," he whispers. He twists his hands tight around the handle of his sword. "It is risky, maybe even disorderly, but I say we turn them loose."

"To me it's not even a choice brave Kosef. I will not execute them and there is no justice here to turn them over to. Our mission against the cult takes precedence even though there is a risk they will turn on us somehow." Evendur says, ready to let them go.

Religion: 1 -2 

"I believe this Kurtulmak to be a tobacconist in Elturel, but I can't expain why the kobold would swear by him. Strange creatures the kobolds." Evendur says with a shrug, ready to move on.

"If anything, being on this mission has been teaching me that things are never as simple as they seem.  And everyone deserves a chance to become something better than what they are now. Things are not always as black and white as others would have them seem."  Kendes looks Rizvik in the eye, speaking in draconic.  "I will do whatever I can in my power for your kobold brothers and sisters should I meet them on my journey.  In return I ask that you let us continue this journey unhindered.  Go, leave here, and find yourself a better life.  Remember that your greatest ally in all of this was no cultist - it was that old man, Jandar, who believed in you first.  Maybe someday, you can return that favor to him, and his family."  With that, Kendes cuts the Rizvik's bonds, and hands him back a dagger.  "Be careful when you leave here, though.  Not all men are as understanding as he."

Rizvik gives Evendur an odd look when he explains who Kurtulmak is. He also accepts the dagger and thanks Kendes in draconic. Severin is very grateful to be allowed to live, and mutters a few words of thanks at Kosef and Evendur. The two of them start travelling away from the roadhouse, back towards Waterdeep.

When the group is ready and Kenny goes to get the half-orc he heads to the strong room and unlocks the door. The room is full of boxes. He leads them to the back of the room and knocks over a box, revealing that it is attached to a trapdoor leading down to a tunnel. Before leaving he says, "Have a safe trip. And praise Tiamat's glory." The tunnel goes on for a bit, and then exits in a cluster of brush and small trees. From there, lizard-like footprints leave a trail in the mud onward into the Mere of Dead Men. As they go further in, the ground gets marshier, and even the solid ground is wet. Reeds grow everywhere, and some trees are also visible. Some close to the trail have been marked, indicating where to go when the ground is too watery to leave tracks. Frogs can be heard ribbiting, a few ducks can be seen dabbling, and a heron flies away when the group approaches, but fortunately no trolls, bullywugs, or other antagonistic creatures are seen.

As the sun starts to set, the group comes across a camp. It is a clearing that is slightly drier than the rest of the marsh with four wicker lean-tos around a small stone platform for lighting fires. Three canoes are drawn up near one of the lean-tos. A few dozen yards beyond the campsite in the direction of the trail, dry land ends. Other than a few trees and thick patches of reeds there is only water.

You have reached level 5.

Evendur would have tried to find a stable for Bayard at the roadhouse before leaving. He follows along in silence, suppressing an urge to speak out as the half-orc praises Tiamat. As they enter the Mere of Dead Men Sir Evendur Archebolde feels the might of Torm surging through him and further empowering him to oppose the Cult of the Dragon. He would call upon the divine powers granted him by the loyal fury to summon a new steed (Find steed) and mount it, if it is possible to ride in the current terrain.

"Watch out, the cults lizardfolk allies might be closeby." He says as they approch the camp.
Perception to spot threats: 22

Kosef watches the camp, trying to tell if it is occupied or abandoned. Like Evendur, he investigates the surroundings, specifically for traps and any information the setting might suggest about its inhabitants: Investigation 16

(OOC: Excited for 5th! Enjoying the campaign, Loosestrife!)

“I don’t recall who among you suggested we try subterfuge with the Roadhouse.  But - by the gods - that went better than I could have imagined!  The half Orc never doubted for a second that I was one of these red wizards.  If I knew more about them I would have been bolder in my demands… maybe asked them to close the roadhouse or seal the tunnel behind us… but locating Naerytar is the objective.  And we are almost there.

”I say we keep up the ruse as long as we can.  Perhaps we can get some of these lizard folk to guide us the rest of the way.”

(woo hoo!  Level 5!  I will finish leveling up after work… but Kenny will take Sending as a level 3 spell so we can report back to our handlers around the Sword Coast.)

Several other horses are resting at the roadhouse, and Bayard is accepted into the stable with them.

There are ashes left on the stone, suggesting someone was in the area recently, but Kosef cannot find any traps or clues about the inhabitants. Evendur spots some shapes approaching the camp, and as they get closer he can see that they are three canoes containing three lizardfolk each. There is still a bit of time before they reach the camp.

(OOC: Glad to hear you are enjoying it.)

Evendur motions to the three canoes approaching the camp, hoping for Kenny to make contact with the lizardfolk if they are to keep the act up a bit longer.

(Assume that we all had to leave our horses, sadly.  Kenny changed around his belongings and left what he couldn’t carry with the saddlebags.)

Kenny moves to the shore near where the canoes are approaching, doing his best to look like an evil wizard who is totally supposed to be here right now.

When the lizardfolk draw close enough, and assuming they don’t immediately attack, he will bail them.  

”Servants of Rezmir!  My escorts and I have urgent business at Naerytar.  We require two of your boats and directions to the castle.”  Deception 22

(Yes, enjoying this campaign, thank you!)

Kendes, who is supposed to be laying low and very dead, will simply enter the water and try to remain hidden while the others are haggling for the boats, using his amphibian nature to stay under the surface.

Stealth: 15

Kosef plays bodyguard by standing slightly between Kenny and the approaching boats. He keeps his face expressionless and his eyes on the lizard folk, his great sword obvious.

As the lizardfolk get even closer more details can be observed. They have nice steel shortswords, and strings of glass beads and teeth hang around their necks. Eight of them look confused, but fortunately the ninth seems to understand what Kenny says, and tells the others (in Draconic) "The human knows Lady Rezmir." None of the seem to notice Kendes. The one who understood Kenny approaches him, and says in Common, "We can give our boats and directions. Would you like us to accompany you?" Now that the lizardfolk is closer, Kenny, Kosef, and Evendur can see he has a stone pendant on a string with Torm's gauntlet carved onto it among his other necklaces. The other eight hang back. Some of them nervously stare at Kosef and Evendur, particularly their nice swords and armour. One of the lizardfolk hanging back says, "Are you sure we can trust these humans? We were told to kill all strangers," in Draconic to the Common-speaking lizardfolk, who replies in Draconic, "Do you want to be punished for delaying important people? They know the Lady."

Evendur, already standing right behind Kenny, posing as his loyal servant, leans in and whispers, informing him of what was said in draconic.
(Ready to give help action to Kenny on any social test versus the lizardfolk.)

Kenny shakes his head at the offer of an escort.  "No.  You should continue to carry out your orders.  A large shipment will be arriving at the other end of the tunnel soon.  We will require directions, unless the water route to the castle is carefully marked."  After a moment, "Also, we were told there had been troll attacks on your forces.  Has there been any troll sign today, or any other threat my bodyguards should be aware of?"

The lizardfolk nods his head. "The way to the castle is well marked. We have carved many symbols on trees and placed markers, but it is best to go by day to avoid missing them. We will continue our task. Our boats are yours to use." The lizardfolk seems surprised that Kenny heard of the troll attack. "There was one troll attack. We have not spotted any signs of it since the attack, but there may be more. But there is a far more dangerous creature. The weed that walks consumes all things in its path and roams the mere in search of new creatures to swallow." The lizardfolk shudders at the thought of the creature. "The rest of the danger is from animals, but they are not too difficult to kill or frighten away."

The lizardfolk settle in to the camp. They head for the lean-tos, but the Common-speaking one says (in Draconic), "Don't take the shelters. They may want them for themselves. They always get the best things." The lizardfolk then settle down on the muddy ground and close their eyes, some of them staring resentfully at Kosef, Evendur, and Kenny.
(OOC: This is assuming you all stay for the night. If you head out, they move into the lean-tos and sleep.)