@Kiari

The professor looks at Leosin and Nighthill. “How many uniforms were recovered from the battle? Could we find some higher ranked cultist robes and insignias that are clean enough to be used? If we could find a rank 4 or even 5 outfit… it would make getting into that cave a lot easier, and less risky.”

Inglenook speaks to the quartermaster and upgrades his crossbow.

Then just hovers around the doorway picking his nails clean and waiting to leave.

Leosin and Nighthill look at each other and then Nighthill says, "It looks like we only have one level two outfit and then four level one outfits. This would make it look like you have captain, in this case Thaddeus, and then a sergeant and four privates." He looks down, "I wish we could help more, but this should at least get you back into camp undetected."

Cale looks at a level one uniform and sighs. "It's kind of embarrassing to turn up in the same thing.  Ah well"

The professor nods. “I understand then. I will play the lieutenant of middling religious rank. I’ll have a second in command and 2 privates. Yes… that should help us get in.” He then turns to the others. “Who would be a good second in command? I have a persuasive tongue but another who can support any quick talking might be good for the role. The others can play the roles of underlings who might avoid close inspection and could possibly slip away in their own.”

He then coughs embarrassed, “This is only one suggestion of a plan. We don’t have to do it this way and We can surely discuss other options. I am not in charge here.  Does anyone else have another idea?”

@DM

 Kirari returns to the barracks after prayer and offering just in time to catch discussion and plans, chuckling to herself at Cale's fashion concerns.  Speaking up as positions are chosen, "I have no gift for speech so put my in one of the lower ranks."  She offers.  "Oh and Jillian's family sends their well wishes." she adds as she splits up the gifted rations among the group.  

@Kiari

 Captain Escobert stands and smooths his bright red dwarven beard. "Ye can make me your sergeant, Professor. I would love to get a closer look at their fortifications, though I didn't see any dwarves among the raiders." 

Nighthill motions to a squire who returns with the robes and knots and hands one for an initiate/private to Inglenook, Cale, Kiari, and Travis. Escobert takes the one for dragonwing/sergeant.

"Ready to march on yer orders, captain," winks Escobert to Thaddeus.

(I can move folks back to the road as it seems we are about ready?)

(Cale is ready)

'You'll be in good company Captain.  Not a lot of Half-Orcs in their ranks either."  Kirari notes, donning the Initiate attire passed to her by the squire.  "Shall we go?"

The professor nods to Escobert. “Your expertise and knowledge will be helpful Captain. Let’s hope dwarves aren’t excluded from the cult for some reason.”

After taking his leave, the professor visits the quartermaster where he purchases a rapier, a flute, and a healing potion.He lingers a while to consider other necessities.

After finishing with his resupply, the professor is ready to go.

Travis nods at the professor's plan. "I think it would be best if I provide 'security' for the group. I am not one for weaving clever webs of words."

Travis has opted to keep his chainmail, which provides better protection than the offered breastplate. He is ready to move out. 

The party heads out again over the rolling green fields and on the northern edges of the plateau shown to them by Leosin. Escobert is in good spirits ready to take the fight to the cult. 

After a couple of hours of travel, the party would know they are getting closer to the camp. 

(To start being more aware while traveling, I’ll take Perception checks, but Survival is also okay depending on what you are looking for). 

As the group traveled the professor would have taken the time to talk to the group and inspire them with a lecture on the appropriate way to wear and secure armor. He would of course review the manner in which these discoveries were made and the various battles in which the forces with superior armor were able to turn back overwhelming odds in heroic battles from the past.

@Althax - thank you

Kirari moves along with the group getting used to the new garb and falling into her role as initiate or lesser and practices deference to Thaddeus and the Captain.  Initially thinking the educative nature of the Professor would prove tedious over time, she finds that this is not the case at all getting lost in the teachings of a good teacher who keeps his students entertained with the why of his instruction with examples of its successes and finds herself happily learning much in the short time she's spent with the Professor.  

As they travel, she doesn't forget the lessons she's already been taught by her environment in the past and keeps alert to obstacles and dangers along the way.  survival 23  

Travis marches along with the others, feeling somewhat buoyed by the professor's talk, though he wonders if knowledge gained in books is quite the same as that gained on the field of battle itself. At any rate, Travis has gone on many an armored march in his time and moves along stoically. His eyes scan ahead and to the sides for any signs of trouble as they get closer to the camp. 

Perception 17 (13 passive)

As they get closer to the encampment, the professor will settle into his cultist persona and practice his cultist voice.

“Anyone want to try that disguise kit again on our friend Travis here? He’s the one most likely to be recognized from that fight with their dragonborn.”

Kirari nods, "I can give it another go." 

Channeling 'Knowledge of the Ages' for 10 minutes of proficiency with the Kit.  Kirari sets to work trying to mimic the style and appearance of the other leaders of the cultists that she'd seen and from the drawings shown to her.  4   

(added only my +2 proficiency but not anything else - would any other skill or stat bonus apply?)  Use of Knowledge of the Ages is once per short rest. 

Cale listens to the professor's tale with interest, although he tries to hide it.  History had never interested him before, but the prof made it sound more like a story, an adventure.

He tries to adjust to the cultist uniform, checking that he has the freedom to move and crouch easily enough.  As the party travels back towards camp, he looks out for signs of an ambush.

Perception 14 (passive 16)

With unmistakable artistry, Kiari’s markings and makeup entirely disguise Travis’ face; Escobert’s face turns into an expression of complete surprise and says, “Why, I do not even recognize ye, lad! If I didn’t know any better, I would say we captured a cultist!” He then pats Travis on the back to emphasize the joke. 

Now that the camp is nearly in view, Kiari would see that there are so many fresh tracks, it would have been difficult to spot them at first. They are made up of wagon ruts as well as kobold and humanoid footprints. It looks like they were made in the last 12 hours or so. 

Cale and Travis see the tracks, but Kiari would notice that while they radiate away from the camp, the vast majority are heading to the northwest, away from Greenest. 

Escobert scampers up an earthen ramp to some higher ground and says, “Ye all may want to take a look at this! I thought ye said the camp was full of raiders, but I don’t see any tents, and there are just a few kobolds taking the fence apart.”