Kirari hangs her head in defeat as they march down the hill.  She positions her hands behind her after attaching the club within easy reach to a mule and tucking her other weapons further under her gear to appear disarmed.  She makes visible snarls at the 'Cultists' and struggles at the invisible 'bindings' using Orcish intermittently to appear angrier.  Sure to make the curses accurately in the event any of their enemies understand Orc.  Having existing injuries, she'll leave these for effect.  

The party makes a convincing group of stragglers from the raiding party, and once again Cale blends effortlessly into his surroundings. 

As they continue to follow the pathway made by the raiders, the sun starts to hang low. Then, everyone could see, with passive perception, lights and small plumes of smoke on the horizon. You still must be a good few miles away from whatever is approaching on the horizon. What do you do, adventurers?

(I’ll take survival, perception, or investigation checks here if folks would like to make them). 

Kirari maintains her role as prisoner but keeps alert to nearby surroundings as well as far looking about as they walk.  "I have Light for anyone that needs but also a Lantern in my pack should anyone need it as it gets darker, my eyes will adapt to the darkness."  She keeps her voice low but clear.  

Investigation  1 ; Survival  12 ; Perception  3

Darkvision 60'

Although Kiari may be a bit unsure of the terrain or what exactly the camp is doing with those fires going, she is very certain that it is a large encampment on the horizon, and since it is right in the path of the raiders' flattened trail, it must be them. Her investigation also turns up a small pouch that fell from the wagon. It contains three more of the carved dragon talismans like the party found in Greenest, although these are painted different colors and look much more elaborately carved. One is red, one is blue, and the last is black.

“What do we want to do friends? I can try to bluff our way into the camp… but if they see through us we will be in real trouble…” The professor looks about at his friends seeking advice on what they want to do. “We could camp a bit away but… if they find us that could be suspicious as well.”

Cale calls over from his hidden position "It's a few miles away, maybe we get closer and then see if we can sneak into the camp?  We might find Leosin in a tent or tied to a pole somewhere"

Kirari scoops up the pouch quickly to inspect it then passes it to the someone close regaining her position as prisoner incase they are spotted by a scout.  "The Black, Blue, and Red colorations might be an indication of rank or other sort of grouping.  We should try to scout and see if we can determine what they mean before using them."

The professor prepares himself for having to bluff his way through any scouts or guards they meet. Getting his voice and demeanor set. “Cale! Do you want to scout ahead and see what’s over there? Maybe you can spot something that’ll help.”

(if folks want to try and scout ahead, just give me a stealth and a perception roll) 

Travis has been standing quietly, trying his best to appear "cultish." 

"I think it best I stay back and quiet for now," he says. "I will be ready when the fight comes, but I am not much of a scout in this chain mail."

Kirari shakes the pouch at one of them again hoping to be without it by the time camp is reached.  "One of you at least should carry it rather than it be found on me."

The professor nods and takes the pouch, attaching it to his belt. “I’m not sure what these things are but if I’m speaking for us then it might be best I hold on to them.”

"I'm a terrible scout or I'd offer.  Don't want to walk into anything." Kirari remarks as she passes the pouch to the professor.  

Cale has his game face on, realising that this might actually be a real challenge.  He nods, agreeing to scout ahead: "OK then, I'll be back in a bit.  Or bits"

Stealth 15 

Perception 11 (passive 16)

Kirari can't resist a grin at the human's comments and walks out into the dark suddenly realizing.  "Maybe that wasn't the best suggestion..."

Cale is able to successfully make his way ahead and disappears from the party's view as he glides along the top of the plateau to the south

@Cale

Cale sneaks back to the group, his face a mask of crestfallen concern.

"It's...it's bad.  A massive camp, sat in a horseshoe of a valley so it's protected on all sides except the entrance.  Guard tower at the entrance, another at the far end.  Crawling with kobolds, cultists, mercenaries; it's not a good target for a probing attack, that's for sure"

He bites his lip and looks a bit more positive: "There is some good news though.  The prisoner camp is pretty close to the entrance, so maybe if we can find a way to sneak them out, we don't need to get in a fight?"

(If DM allows, Cale will draw the map in the dirt with a stick to allow others to see what he did, and/or talk Inglenook through recreating it with Minor Illusion)

"It does sound like a stealthy approach is best," Travis says, looking a little concerned. "I will do my best not to slow us down."

Inglenook, who is currently pretending to be hog tied to the back of a mule says, "Mvrf frmph jfsh phreemf"  Then chuckles to himself.

“Hmm that’s a lot more than we can handle. Anyone have any ideas? A frontal assault sounds like suicide.”