(They are walking beside Krackle Carriage. Yes, you can assume to fill in Serge on what has happened so far) 

An hour passes as Krackle studies the ring and he discovers that it is a ring of resistance

ring of resistance

This part is my own bit of homebrewing. So, whoever keeps the ring please keep note of what I write next. The ring is currently set to fire resistance, but I will say that at dawn each day you can change the resistance type though you cannot change it again till the next dawn. 

     Zeds whispers to Krackle that he should speed up the carriage a bit...  If the robed ones are going to keep pace, make them work for it.

At midday Faelsin made the decision to continue on so quick sandwiches are made on the go and passed out. Anyone who wanted water can head to Malfa as she can refill anyone's waterskins. The man in red looks to Krackle "As a kindness I can grab your sandwich for you as I know you are busy driving." 

Ixsas doffs his armor and gets what rest he can before dawn.  He feels rested and a renewed faith that Kossuth is with him after surviving the fight with the undead the previous night.  He says his prayers, but he still feels tired and drained.  He dons his armor and stows his backpack again on Krackle's carriage so that he doesn't have to carry it.  With Ironthar gone, he's not sure who's organizing the caravan guard.  He asks Serge and Zeds about it and spends most of his time near the front of the line, watching for any new dangers ahead.

Perception 21

((Terrible healing rolls.  Had to spend 4 HD to get back to full HP.  Currently down to just 4 spell slots: two 1st level and two 3rd level.  He gets his Channel Divinity back, but his Warding Flare won't recharge until he gets a full long rest.))

As Zeds talks about this ‘dragon cult’ he would see a change come over Serge.  His eyes lock onto Zeds’ and he listens with rapt attention and no interruptions.  His breathing quickens slightly and his sword hand flexes absent-mindedly.  He looks like a card player who just looked down at a big hand and is debating how to play it, but can’t hide the tell.

At last, he asks, ”These cultists… some are here now?  With this caravan, you think?  Who?”

Krackle would nod to Zeds, offering him a seat next to him driving the carriage. He would have also invited Ixsas and Serge to ride inside the carriage and rest as we travel. With a few words in draconic and a gentle tug on the reigns, he attempts to get JR to move a bit faster.. not fast enough to really pull away from the rest of the caravan, but enough that those following on foot would have to walk quickly to keep up. 

When the red robed man asks about bringing krackle a sandwich... the kobold slides the hand that is wearing the ring into the pocket of his robes. The kobold pauses for a moment... concerned that maybe the man would try to poison him to get the ring....

insight 18

((Happy 100 pages all!))

     "The one in red and the one in white," Zeds says indicating the two robed figures to Serge.  "I don't think I said they are cultists.  Truth be, not sure what they are.  Though I think the one in white is definitely not white.  Don't think he bled when stabbed... He seems subservient to the one in red. Haven't seen any dragon symbols or anything on them but they seem off and weirdness started after they arrived."  ((Did anyone ever confirm the white clad one being undead or anything?))

     "Not real sure who is in charge of the guard now," Zeds answers to Ixsas.  "Thanks for volunteering though."  Zeds smiles to show he's not exactly serious but it's also apparent Zeds has no plans to take charge.  "I suspect everyone is keeping an eye out for danger now anyway..."

     "We'll be taking care of our own provision," he calls down when Red offers to fetch food for their kobold.  "You just mind out beast doesn't see you as tasty.  They eat a lot and haven't been full in ages..."

“I don’t care about the men in robes.  You said you were tracking dragon cultists.  Tell me everything you know about them.  Do you suspect there are some here now?”Serge says, perhaps a little too aggressively.

Krackle gets the sense that the man in red might actually poison your lunch or at least just to incapacitate you for a while. 

The kobold narrows his eyes as he stares hard at the robed man. After considering his offer. Before he can respond, Zeds does so for him. The kobold then gives the robed man a toothy smile and shakes his head. "Zeds is right... we have all the provisions we need. Thank you for the offer. Also... after studying the ring it appears to be a simple ring of resistance. No further study needed... so if you let your friend know, I am sure you both have other fascinating things to study..." Krackle says as he attempts to shoo away the man with his un-ringed hand. 

The man in red gives Krackle a false smile and walks away to talk with Vesax his undead servant.

Ixsas sees no dangers ahead, but this trip has already been stranger than most.

(Everyone can RP a bit to answer Serge's questions and then I will continue) 

     Zeds considers for a moment but then shrugs.  "I think these robed figures are something else entirely...  And nobody in the caravan has caught my attention much one way or another, honestly.  But truth is, we don't much know how to spot a cultist from a normal person, really.  Except when they are sacking towns, working with half-dragons and that kind of thing."  He chews on that for a moment but then asks "Why so interested?  You know something about them that maybe we should as well?"

Quote from Kaemgen >>

((Did anyone ever confirm the white clad one being undead or anything?))

 

((OOC: Yes, definitely undead.  See post #1752: "Through the spell Ixsas also know that Vexas is indeed undead but not the man in the red robes."  And after Vesax didn't bleed when cut, the DM said: "Ironthar and Zeds can surmise that Vesax could be partly a construct of some kind or perhaps and undead creation."  But we kind of put all of that on hold once we realized that the New Moon was upon us, and we would be facing the Hellriders who had left a burned handprint on one of the caravanners just before Ixsas joined the group.)

Quote from Bartjeebus>>

“I don’t care about the men in robes.  You said you were tracking dragon cultists.  Tell me everything you know about them.  Do you suspect there are some here now?”Serge says, perhaps a little too aggressively.

Ixsas chimes just chimes in to say, "I only joined the caravan a week ago, long after Zeds and Krackle and Ironthar fought at Greenest and confronted the cultists.  We suspect that the cultists are in a caravan to the north, a little ways ahead of us on the road, because there are apparently some sort of drakes guarding that caravan.  Remember, Krackle?  The giant told us about them.  We don't know whether the cultists travel openly or secretly concealed in a regular caravan.  In any case, we hope to catch up to them at Carnath House if they stop to rest there."  Ixsas explains that when he joined the caravan a week ago, Faelsin had said that all caravans who have any sense stop at the midpoint of the journey (between Baldur's Gate and Waterdeep?) at a rest stop called Carnath House.  Ixsas checks with Faelsin to find out how many more days Faelsin thinks it'll take them to reach Carnath House at the current pace.  He thinks that it must be soon.  He brings that information back to the others. 

Ixsas explains to Serge, "The only other option was to head north ourselves to try to catch up to the caravan with the cultists before they reach Carnath House.  But Ironthar would not do that because it would have left Faelsin's caravan unguarded against the dangers of the Fields of the Dead.  Kossuth's Light must have been upon him when he made that decision because without us -- and your help! -- the Hellriders surely would have overrun the caravan, spreading death and fire as they came."

(OOC: I'm not 100% clear on our current "job."  I know that we were headed north and passing through the Fields of the Dead.  So, I guess the current leg of the caravan is going from Baldur's Gate to Waterdeep?  I don't know whether Zeds and Krackle are committed to escort the caravan just to Waterdeep or beyond that to Neverwinter or farther north.  In any case, the "halfway point" is Carnath House, and it seems like we should reach there soon.)

Oh, and Ixsas makes it clear that he would love to confront the red-robed necromancer.  Vesax is clearly undead, and Ixsas believes that all undead are an affront to Kossuth and must be put to the "Cleansing Fire" and destroyed.  But Faelsin accepted the red-robed figure into the caravan shortly before Ixsas joined, and Ironthar would not move against the red-robed man unless he provoked real trouble.  So far, the red-robed man has been suspicious and unhelpful, but he and Vesax have not started any fights or been clearly linked to any problem or harms that have beset the caravan.  In any case, the party didn't want to start a confrontation within the caravan before they faced the Hellriders.

Serge listens to the explanation.  He eyes Ixsas, Zeds and Krackle with concern, wondering how much to share.  He is most nervous about the kobold... not due to any adverse action the small one had taken, but because of kobolds' stereotypical connection to the service of dragons.  Ultimately, he decides this one has proven himself willing to risk his life to defend the caravan, and is worthy of trust.

He gathers the others in and lowers his voice, relating a bit of his own story as they travel.  He is also tracking dragon-worshippers, but for his own reasons.

The Marshblades, he relates, trace their history back to a famous knight who lived centuries before.  Perhaps out of habit, he begins to recite tales of that hero's glory, such as the time he was called to aid the Knights of Myth Drannor in battle - before he remembers himself and gets back to the point.  The family name actually comes from the sword that knight carried, the Marshblade.  It was unassuming enough to look at, but enchanted with powerful magics.   The family lore held that the blade was particularly suited to the slaying of dragons and had felled many in the past, though in modern times that story had not been put to the test.

"In our current generation, my elder brother Kost, a knight in service to Helm, was chosen to wield the Marshblade," he adds.  His eyes harden before he looks away.  "A week ago, we received word that he had been murdered, somewhere near Waterdeep.  The sword and his body were taken.  The church of Helm investigated, but the only lead they found were witnesses who saw the killers taunting Kost before they finished him.  It was said they told him they were taking to sword to cast it into the sea, where it would 'never again cause harm to the Dragon Queen's children.'"  

He looks back, some of the hardness gone, instead replaced by a tired sadness.  "Davron, our eldest brother and the lord of our modest holdings, bestowed upon me the honor and privilege of hunting Kost's murderers.  I had planned to visit the Temple of Helm in Waterdeep and begin by questioning the witnesses.  It appears Helm has seen fit to provide me with another lead entirely.  While I suppose we are technically co-workers already, guarding this caravan, I would propose a more serious arrangement.  If you will permit me, I would like to join your hunt for these villains.  I will not sleep sound until they have all hung for what they have done."

"Well... if you are looking to kill dragon cultists... I think you are in the right place." The kobold says with a frown. "Not long ago I'd never hurt anyone... now I've lost track of how many cultists I've helped kill." He says with a sigh as he looks down and stares ar his small clawed hands. "I Still don't really know how we ended up in all this mess... wrong place at the wrong time I guess... but now it sounds like it's our job to save the world. I suppose if the world is destroyed... then that likely includes Zeds, Jr, my carriage, and my bag here..." He motions to the large bag strapped to his chest that looks to contain some kind of large rounded object inside. "Will he destroyed too... and I won't let that happen." Krackle adds with a determined grin.

Ixsas says, "I know nothing of these cultists, or of your family history, Serge.  My name is Ixsas, and I come from far away," we gestures back to the south. "The only family I have known is the church.  Kossuth gave my superiors a Vision, a warning of great danger in the North that could threaten the whole world.  I was chosen to come north to learn of this danger and to do what I could to prevent it."  He points to Krackle and Zeds, "When they told me of this cult that seeks to restore the Dragon Queen...well, Kossuth's Light guides my feet.  I feel that I am where I need to be, but the 'more kindling, the brighter the fire.'  If you wish to join us to thwart this dragon cult's mad plans, I'd be happy to have you with us!"

During the fight, Ixsas had his face covered with a headscarf.  (See description in post #1637.)  Now, while they eat and talk on the road, his heardscarf is pulled down, revealing a much darker flaky or scaly skin.  (See post #1643.)

     "I'm just in it for the money," Zeds chimes in with a yawn.  Zeds wears well worn but well cared for studded leather armor and bright but faded clothes.  He carries a mismatched pair of short swords and has a half dozen or more daggers stashed about himself.  As like as not he is shuffling cards during any idle time, but his eyes always lively and looking about himself.  Alert... or just wary.  "If they're sacking cities and carting off the gold these dragon cultists have to have quite the hoard somewhere, eh?"