There's a sign of recognition in Jamna's eyes when Khessa asks if she can play the harp, but she doesn't elaborate.
You have my gratitude! I must say, I'm relieved that I don't need to risk breaking into their wagons. Tiamat you say? This is new information for me... I did notice the Red Wizard... Indeed, why is a Red Wizard chumming it up with Cult of the Dragon members? I don't think dracoliches matches with Tiamat and the Red Wizard... Most Red Wizards currently not in Thay are being hunted by Szass Tam and his undead zulkirs...
"Same holds for this Red Wizard, Azbara Jos, then, probably..." Khessa starts reflecting again "He spoke with contempt of the 'undead obsessed'. I had thought of the Dracoliches because that was the specialty of the Cult of the Dragon... wasn't it? But you're right, this would contrast with Azbara's aversion to the undead. However, I'm sure of Tiamat's involvement. So, either the expensive ritual they have in mind is for something else... or the loot itself is for something else. I had thought of a ritual because some have expensive components - and Red Wizards could have brought arcane know-how needed for the process, but the loot could in fact also be used to finance something else. We are trying to find out where they take it... so maybe we'll then be able to prevent them from using it".
Hmmm, if Tiamat is involved... Maybe the Cult is reforming? Moving away from undead Dragons to living Dragons?
... Hmmm, if Tiamat is involved... Maybe the Cult is reforming? Moving away from undead Dragons to living Dragons?
"This could well be," Khessa confirms "dragons and half-dragons helped the Cult with their recent raids. But their strategy - how they think to conquer the world - that still eludes me. Anyway, the loot seems to play an important role - so maybe for now we can focus on depriving them of it".
I assume having a freaking evil Dragon Goddess on your side might help conquering the world somewhat. Fortunately she's bound to the Nine Hells. Jamna seems to think for a moment. Waterdeep might be our best chance. Let's keep this charade going for now.
"I am not the kind of guy that sneak into a guarded wagon at night. But I'll watch your back and my magic will help you" nods the dwarf.
OCC: What does Eric know about the Red Wizards and their possible relationship with the cult?
If history check is needed: 17 + 4
[[Sorry missed this]]
Eric knows:
For centuries, the leaders of the Red Wizards and in fact all of Thay was the Council of Zulkirs. The ruling body comprised eight of the most powerful Red Wizards, each of whom represented one of the schools of magic. Each of the zulkirs and their subordinates fomented intense rivalries with one another, leading to great feuds and near-crippling internal strife. In the years following the War of the Zulkirs, the Red Wizards of Thay were led by the feared lich and supreme regent, Szass Tam.
After Szass Tam seized power from the Council of Zulkirs, the Red Wizards underwent a more severe divide. Both the zulkirs and the Red Wizards loyal to their respective schools were forced to choose a faction in the growing conflict: either remain with those loyal to their Thayan way of life but remain outside Thay, or side with Szass Tam and his ever-expanding cabal of liches, vampires, and other undead spellcasters.
I assume having a freaking evil Dragon Goddess on your side might help conquering the world somewhat. Fortunately she's bound to the Nine Hells. Jamna seems to think for a moment. Waterdeep might be our best chance. Let's keep this charade going for now.
"Since Tiamat's involvement is new, perhaps it would be best if we warned other harpers as well..." Khessa proposes "Perhaps they could keep themselves more alert. However, at the moment, I have no way of communicating with anyone else. Can you notify anyone?"
"It is reasonable to assume that they are trying to find out a way in which their deity could be brought back from the nine hells" mumbles the dwarf "I have no knowledge about such a ritual anyway. But I assume that Waterdeep is the best place to gather this kind of information"
"A ritual... To bring Tiamat back from the nine hells?!" Khessa is horrified "I didn't thought of that because it seemed too difficult... After all... Tiamat is a goddess, isn't she? And if not even she can free herself from there... what power a ritual should have, to be able to free her? Shouldn't it be a ritual of superdivine power?"
"But now that you make me think clearly, Eric, unfortunately you could be right..." the blonde arcane warrior shivers, while once again she sees in her nightmare what would happen if Tiamat were actually freed on the material plane "If the defenses that imprison Tiamat are like a solid door, let's say... maybe Tiamat, from inside, cannot open the door... And she doesn't have the power to break it down... But if someone, from outside, had the key to use in the lock… then perhaps they could do it without being exceptionally powerful. Perhaps the loot is to fund a ritual capable of doing this! And Azbara, with or without other Red Wizards, is helping to devise this ritual. Or will help to cast it".
With a light of iron determination in her blue eyes, while caressing Steff's Rod with her fingers to better remember the Common Folk for which she fights, the tall adventuress declares: "They must be stopped. At any cost".
At the moment I can't really contact anyone... but I'm used to working alone. Let's see what we can accomplish in Waterdeep!
But if Tiamat is freed... maybe the exiled Red Wizards think she would bestow upon them great power that could unseat Szass Tam?
"Good guess!" Khessa approves "Who knows, then, if some piece of information could 'accidentally' reach Szass Tam, so that he can get rid of those annoying exiled Red Wizards for us? Anyway, ok, first things first, lets see what music we can play in Waterdeep" she winks "I'm with you".
Zale listens to this conversation in silence, trying to process the entire thing. Tiamat, red wizards, world domination. By the seas, it seems like she's gotten herself into something huge...ah well so long as she can get her revenge.
"Sounds like a fine enough plan to me." She says finally, "Heh, I sure won't be the one drawin no attention, you my little gnome friend might want to be a bit less obvious in yer observations. My group caught on to ye pretty fast, so I wouldn't be surprised if them cultists start gett'n suspicious of ye."
Zale listens to this conversation in silence, trying to process the entire thing. Tiamat, red wizards, world domination. By the seas, it seems like she's gotten herself into something huge...ah well so long as she can get her revenge.
"Sounds like a fine enough plan to me." She says finally, "Heh, I sure won't be the one drawin no attention, you my little gnome friend might want to be a bit less obvious in yer observations. My group caught on to ye pretty fast, so I wouldn't be surprised if them cultists start gett'n suspicious of ye."
One of the Cultists acting as a wagon guard was murdered overnight. He was stabbed in the back with a sword (the wound is too big to be from a dagger) and left where he fell beneath a cult wagon.
The dead man’s companions immediately accuse Zale and demand to inspect her weapons.
She did it! I know it! One of the Cultists says. While another goes: She's been sneaking around our car the whole trip!
'Jamna has quite a peculiar way of 'not attracting attention'…' thinks Khessa.
"Let's not jump to hasty conclusions..." the blonde arcane warrior tries to reason with the caravan members (more out of fear that the Cult will convince other members of the caravan to suspect Zale and no longer want her, than to convince the cultist - who have already dislike Zale, to say the least) "The dragonborn is a bodyguard like many others... How could she 'sneak around a cart the whole trip'... she is always near Lai Angesstun to protect him... And what could you understand from her weapons? Even if they were compatible with the type of wound, the dragonborn is certainly not the only one in the whole caravan to own a short sword".
"Mind you, I'm not delighted either by the idea that there's a murderer among us - but we can't just accuse the dragonborn like that, without real evidence... or am I wrong, Mr. Urnpoleshurst?" the tall adventuress turns to the lawyer she is bodyguard "What do you think?"
Before Urnpoleshurst can react the first Cultist speaks up again.
Short sword? Who said anything about a short sword? She confessed to her friend and now they are trying to cover it up for her! Or was it a two man-job maybe?!
Jamna is with the assembled crowd. She watches you with a disappointed look and then walks away shaking her head.
Before Urnpoleshurst can react the first Cultist speaks up again.
Short sword? Who said anything about a short sword? She confessed to her friend and now they are trying to cover it up for her! Or was it a two man-job maybe?!
Jamna is with the assembled crowd. She watches you with a disappointed look and then walks away shaking her head.
Khessa sighs, explaining the obvious as she points to the wound: "The wound says 'short sword', if you only make your brain work as fast as your mouth! Can't see? The wound is too big to be from a dagger. So it must be from a sword. But greatswords and long swords are primarly used by slashing, while this is a stab. And, go figure, short swords are good at stabbing with. Plus, easier to sneak on someone with a shorter blade, rather than with a longer one. That's why short sword".
"I understand that rage can cloud judgment," the blonde arcane warrior conceeds "but jumping to concludions (expecially to wrong ones) will not help anyone".
'Play the role of the disappointed as much as you like, Jamna...' the tall adventuress thinks 'As much as I might like some cultist to meet a premature end, I'll not let my friends be blamed when they aren't to be'.
Kriv steps between Zale and the cultists. “She has done nothing to you. Our entire group have been helping and keeping everyone safe this whole trip, including you. Keep making accusations and your friend will be the lucky one.”
When the cultists approach her, Zale tries drown her anger. First these cultists steal her dagger, then they threaten her, now they accuse her of murder?! Bloody Bastards. "Why you...grrr, When Have I been sneakin round yer cart? HUH?! Do ye have any witnesses other than yer own men? I be a bloody body guard, and I've been in this caravan just as long as you have. Why would I up and kill one o the other body guards? It ain't like I'd get anythin out of it! I doubt I'd get paid more than I already is. Ye want to inspect me weapons? Why don't ye let someone of other than yer men inspect both the body and me gear!" She stops when Khessa and Kriv intervene. "It's from a shortsword? I don't even own one o those bloody things!" She turns to the cultists, "And if it ain't a shortsword, what kind o sword is it? Eh? It sure weren't a dagger..." She trails off. She knows she's being set up, and she's not sure how to get out of it. "Who's wagon was that bloke even guarding?"
I'm assuming Zale slept outside as usual, were there any others that usually sleep outside? If so, are any of them usually near her?
Her passive perception is 12. I'll roll if absolutely necessary lol.
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Hmmm, if Tiamat is involved... Maybe the Cult is reforming? Moving away from undead Dragons to living Dragons?
Player: Any Good Alignment // DM: Lawful Evil
"This could well be," Khessa confirms "dragons and half-dragons helped the Cult with their recent raids. But their strategy - how they think to conquer the world - that still eludes me. Anyway, the loot seems to play an important role - so maybe for now we can focus on depriving them of it".
I assume having a freaking evil Dragon Goddess on your side might help conquering the world somewhat. Fortunately she's bound to the Nine Hells. Jamna seems to think for a moment. Waterdeep might be our best chance. Let's keep this charade going for now.
Player: Any Good Alignment // DM: Lawful Evil
[[Sorry missed this]]
Eric knows:
For centuries, the leaders of the Red Wizards and in fact all of Thay was the Council of Zulkirs. The ruling body comprised eight of the most powerful Red Wizards, each of whom represented one of the schools of magic. Each of the zulkirs and their subordinates fomented intense rivalries with one another, leading to great feuds and near-crippling internal strife. In the years following the War of the Zulkirs, the Red Wizards of Thay were led by the feared lich and supreme regent, Szass Tam.
After Szass Tam seized power from the Council of Zulkirs, the Red Wizards underwent a more severe divide. Both the zulkirs and the Red Wizards loyal to their respective schools were forced to choose a faction in the growing conflict: either remain with those loyal to their Thayan way of life but remain outside Thay, or side with Szass Tam and his ever-expanding cabal of liches, vampires, and other undead spellcasters.
Player: Any Good Alignment // DM: Lawful Evil
"Since Tiamat's involvement is new, perhaps it would be best if we warned other harpers as well..." Khessa proposes "Perhaps they could keep themselves more alert. However, at the moment, I have no way of communicating with anyone else. Can you notify anyone?"
"It is reasonable to assume that they are trying to find out a way in which their deity could be brought back from the nine hells" mumbles the dwarf "I have no knowledge about such a ritual anyway. But I assume that Waterdeep is the best place to gather this kind of information"
"A ritual... To bring Tiamat back from the nine hells?!" Khessa is horrified "I didn't thought of that because it seemed too difficult... After all... Tiamat is a goddess, isn't she? And if not even she can free herself from there... what power a ritual should have, to be able to free her? Shouldn't it be a ritual of superdivine power?"
"But now that you make me think clearly, Eric, unfortunately you could be right..." the blonde arcane warrior shivers, while once again she sees in her nightmare what would happen if Tiamat were actually freed on the material plane "If the defenses that imprison Tiamat are like a solid door, let's say... maybe Tiamat, from inside, cannot open the door... And she doesn't have the power to break it down... But if someone, from outside, had the key to use in the lock… then perhaps they could do it without being exceptionally powerful. Perhaps the loot is to fund a ritual capable of doing this! And Azbara, with or without other Red Wizards, is helping to devise this ritual. Or will help to cast it".
With a light of iron determination in her blue eyes, while caressing Steff's Rod with her fingers to better remember the Common Folk for which she fights, the tall adventuress declares: "They must be stopped. At any cost".
At the moment I can't really contact anyone... but I'm used to working alone. Let's see what we can accomplish in Waterdeep!
But if Tiamat is freed... maybe the exiled Red Wizards think she would bestow upon them great power that could unseat Szass Tam?
Player: Any Good Alignment // DM: Lawful Evil
"Good guess!" Khessa approves "Who knows, then, if some piece of information could 'accidentally' reach Szass Tam, so that he can get rid of those annoying exiled Red Wizards for us? Anyway, ok, first things first, lets see what music we can play in Waterdeep" she winks "I'm with you".
"Others?" says Eric "Is Azbara a Red Wizard then?"
OCC: I don't remember if Khessa already said that or not.... :P
"He comes from Thay... he is a mage... he despises undead..." Khessa enumerates "He really looks like an exiled Red Wizard to me".
(OOC: Oh, well... Nor sure if Khessa did already say that or nor... No problem in saying it now, anyway)
Anyway let's just observe until we reach Waterdeep.
Jamna start to walk away but before she does she whispers: and try not to draw too much attention.
Player: Any Good Alignment // DM: Lawful Evil
Zale listens to this conversation in silence, trying to process the entire thing. Tiamat, red wizards, world domination. By the seas, it seems like she's gotten herself into something huge...ah well so long as she can get her revenge.
"Sounds like a fine enough plan to me." She says finally, "Heh, I sure won't be the one drawin no attention, you my little gnome friend might want to be a bit less obvious in yer observations. My group caught on to ye pretty fast, so I wouldn't be surprised if them cultists start gett'n suspicious of ye."
Jamna pretends not to hear you.
Player: Any Good Alignment // DM: Lawful Evil
Day 38
One of the Cultists acting as a wagon guard was murdered overnight. He was stabbed in the back with a sword (the wound is too big to be from a dagger) and left where he fell beneath a cult wagon.
The dead man’s companions immediately accuse Zale and demand to inspect her weapons.
She did it! I know it! One of the Cultists says. While another goes: She's been sneaking around our car the whole trip!
Player: Any Good Alignment // DM: Lawful Evil
'Jamna has quite a peculiar way of 'not attracting attention'…' thinks Khessa.
"Let's not jump to hasty conclusions..." the blonde arcane warrior tries to reason with the caravan members (more out of fear that the Cult will convince other members of the caravan to suspect Zale and no longer want her, than to convince the cultist - who have already dislike Zale, to say the least) "The dragonborn is a bodyguard like many others... How could she 'sneak around a cart the whole trip'... she is always near Lai Angesstun to protect him... And what could you understand from her weapons? Even if they were compatible with the type of wound, the dragonborn is certainly not the only one in the whole caravan to own a short sword".
"Mind you, I'm not delighted either by the idea that there's a murderer among us - but we can't just accuse the dragonborn like that, without real evidence... or am I wrong, Mr. Urnpoleshurst?" the tall adventuress turns to the lawyer she is bodyguard "What do you think?"
Before Urnpoleshurst can react the first Cultist speaks up again.
Short sword? Who said anything about a short sword? She confessed to her friend and now they are trying to cover it up for her! Or was it a two man-job maybe?!
Jamna is with the assembled crowd. She watches you with a disappointed look and then walks away shaking her head.
Player: Any Good Alignment // DM: Lawful Evil
Khessa sighs, explaining the obvious as she points to the wound: "The wound says 'short sword', if you only make your brain work as fast as your mouth! Can't see? The wound is too big to be from a dagger. So it must be from a sword. But greatswords and long swords are primarly used by slashing, while this is a stab. And, go figure, short swords are good at stabbing with. Plus, easier to sneak on someone with a shorter blade, rather than with a longer one. That's why short sword".
"I understand that rage can cloud judgment," the blonde arcane warrior conceeds "but jumping to concludions (expecially to wrong ones) will not help anyone".
'Play the role of the disappointed as much as you like, Jamna...' the tall adventuress thinks 'As much as I might like some cultist to meet a premature end, I'll not let my friends be blamed when they aren't to be'.
Kriv steps between Zale and the cultists. “She has done nothing to you. Our entire group have been helping and keeping everyone safe this whole trip, including you. Keep making accusations and your friend will be the lucky one.”
Zale smirks at Jemna's reaction to her comment.
When the cultists approach her, Zale tries drown her anger. First these cultists steal her dagger, then they threaten her, now they accuse her of murder?! Bloody Bastards. "Why you...grrr, When Have I been sneakin round yer cart? HUH?! Do ye have any witnesses other than yer own men? I be a bloody body guard, and I've been in this caravan just as long as you have. Why would I up and kill one o the other body guards? It ain't like I'd get anythin out of it! I doubt I'd get paid more than I already is. Ye want to inspect me weapons? Why don't ye let someone of other than yer men inspect both the body and me gear!" She stops when Khessa and Kriv intervene. "It's from a shortsword? I don't even own one o those bloody things!" She turns to the cultists, "And if it ain't a shortsword, what kind o sword is it? Eh? It sure weren't a dagger..." She trails off. She knows she's being set up, and she's not sure how to get out of it. "Who's wagon was that bloke even guarding?"
I'm assuming Zale slept outside as usual, were there any others that usually sleep outside? If so, are any of them usually near her?
Her passive perception is 12. I'll roll if absolutely necessary lol.