"Yeah! The gold is nice" Krackle adds with a nod to Zeds. "I was poor until we started working to stop the dragon cultists... hopefully once we stop them we'll have enough coin to last us the rest of our lives." 

In the light of day you would have all gotten a better look at Serge.  He has the appearance of a man of about 25 years.  He might once have been handsome, but injuries to his face leave that to the imagination.  His left cheekbone is uneven, as if it were broken once and never healed straight.  He also has a wide scar on his chin which leaves an eye-catching bald patch in his beard.  It's also obvious he has been on the road for days.  His hair and face are unkempt and the blue tabard that covers his chainmail armor is dirty and grass-stained.  The tabard itself has a symbol woven onto the right breast... blue patterns on a white field, of a longsword piercing the back of a clawed hand from above.

He looks again at the three others.  Of Ixsas, he ponders multiple questions about Kossuth, but voices none of them, concerned that ignorant queries might upset the priest of this strange god.  He has other questions about Krackle, looking back and forth between the kobold, the giant lizard pulling the carriage, and the egg-shaped package... deciding some mysteries are best left unsolved.  Zeds seems to be the easiest to understand of the group - the world is full of folk willing to fight for coin.  Serge can respect that, but won't forget that a mercenary's allegiances can change with a single pouch of coins.

"Very well.  Is that the plan then?  Bide our time until we catch up to the blackguards, then seize them and their ill-gotten treasures?"

((OOC: Yes, I think that's still our plan, but I was hoping to an answer to this question from my previous post:

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.  

If we'll reach Carnath House in another day or two, Ixsas would prefer wait and finish a Long Rest before they seek out the cultists there.  If it'll be another 3+ days before they reach Carnath House, he'd be more willing to forge ahead and try to catch up to them on the road.

)

Faelsin says it will take 6 more days before reaching the rest stop. 

The end of the day comes and Faelsin calls for everyone to stop and make camp. Once more the wagons form a circle at the side of the trail. The oxen are fed and watered as well as the horses. Malfa starts a fire and begins cooking dinner which is smoked fish with a heel of bread for everyone. 

Faelsin looks out beyond circle of wagons with a distant look then he approaches the party. He seemed tired and haggard "I know some caravanners says we are cursed, but I never took any stock in it, but maybe we are. I have been on this route many times for years and I have never encountered the undead in such numbers. I know this is a crazy theory, but I think something might be drawing all this trouble to us like a magnet of some kind.  Can all of you look into it. Maybe talk to some of the caravanners. They might share something they would never say to me" 

Current time 7:30 pm

     "Personally I'm not too concerned with seizing the cultists.  Ending their days seems the more expeditious method of solving the problem that is them.  We don't really have mobile cells to put them in, or guards to watch them," Zeds says but otherwise agrees that the basics of the plan are correct.  "Follow whatever leads may come up, do what we can to put an end to their plans...  Report back to the concerned groups as we can, ever hopeful they'll get their shit together and be able to provide more aid."

     Zeds nods to what Faelsin says.  "I suspect it is the red robed one and his undead minion," Zeds offers.  "I've been keeping a special eye upon them and intend to continue to do so.  I think that is more important for me to do than quizzing the others in the wagon trail but I am sure the others could try to get them to talk..."

     And true to his word, Zeds is indeed still spying upon those two at every available moment and is specially wary of them around any of the food stuffs since their implied threat to Krackle...

With Zeds shadowing the robed suspects, Serge will take a long walk around the perimeter of the wagon circle, watching and listening.  

He hasn't had a chance to familiarize himself with the various merchants and waggoneers here yet, other than his new allies, Faelsin, and the robed men.  Now, he tries to satisfy his curiousity about who else he is traveling with.  He isn't exactly investigating per Faelsin's request, yet.  For now he is just watching and listening, trying to get an idea of how many wagons are here, how many souls travel with each wagon... who looks new to the road, who looks like a grizzled veteran of these long-haul trips, etc.

He intends for his patrol to serve a dual purpose.  He dons his shield and walks confidently with a hand resting on his sword hilt, making no effort to be stealthy.  In fact he wishes to be seen.  The caravan it seems has had a rough journey so far.  If he is going to be paid to guard, then he will guard.  And he hopes that seeing an armed and armored warrior patrolling the camp will help the other travelers relax and get a good night's rest.

If necessary, Perception:  9

Ixsas suggests that they confront the red-robed man.  He says with obvious distaste, "Faelsin has permitted a necromancer to ride with the caravan.  Neither the necromancer nor his undead thrall helped when the caravan was attacked last night.  What else could be the cause of the increased attacks from the unquiet spirits in this land?"  If none of the others show interest in confronting the red-robed man, he says, "If we cannot kick the necromancer out of the caravan and destroy his undead thrall, we should at least talk to him and demand to see the book we saw him writing in.  Perhaps it will show that he knew the attacks were coming."

Quote from Bartjeebus >>

He intends for his patrol to serve a dual purpose.  He dons his shield and walks confidently with a hand resting on his sword hilt, making no effort to be stealthy.  In fact he wishes to be seen.  The caravan it seems has had a rough journey so far.  If he is going to be paid to guard, then he will guard.  And he hopes that seeing an armed and armored warrior patrolling the camp will help the other travelers relax and get a good night's rest.

If necessary, Perception:  9

Ixsas will tour the caravan with Serge if the fighter allows it.  He greets and says a blessing on any of the caravanners who have professed faith in Kossuth.  Ixsas briefly asks the "leader" of each wagon whether they know anything about what could have brought on their undead attackers last night.  He does this from a distance, directing the question to one person but hopefully heard by the others.  He doubts that anyone will have useful information about the attacks, but he's watching for anyone who looks guilty or who is silent but seems to want to talk to them.  

Insight 10 (It's the same skill bonus if that should have been a Perception or Investigation 15 check) 

Quote from Ben_Evolent >>

 

Insight 19 (It's the same skill bonus if that should have been a Perception or Investigation 16 check) 

((OOC: Oops.  Copy-paste error. I didn't mean to include that second roll at the end.))

Serge is pleased to have the priests company for his tour.

"Tell me, sir," he asks while they walk and while Ixsas questions the waggoneers, "did your seers give any hint as to this doom they foresaw on the horizon?  Do these cultists plan to bribe some dragons into their service and make war?  Or perhaps something even more dire, like setting off another Rage of Dragons?"

     Zeds assures Ixsas that he would happily assist in ridding the caravan of the red robed figure and their pet undead... Once Faelsin gave his approval.  "He's our employer.  At least in theory.  We can't go around killing his charges without his permission...  At least until they give us reasonable cause."

Quote from Bartjeebus >>

"Tell me, sir," he asks while they walk and while Ixsas questions the waggoneers, "did your seers give any hint as to this doom they foresaw on the horizon? 

((OOC: I honestly don't remember what the party actually knows about the dragon cult's plans.))

Ixsas speaks with an unusual accent that's more noticeable now that he's not just shouting warnings or encouragement in combat.  "In truth," Ixsas says, "the high priest only foretold a great cataclysm arising in The North, but he said nothing of dragons.  Destruction and death.  Not just a regional war.  No.  Something that would bring ruin to all of Toril!  He said that the Burning Braziers of Kossuth could help prevent this calamity, so I volunteered."  Ixsas says it simply, not boasting, the same way one might say that they volunteered to take a message to the neighboring village.

Ixsas continues, "I've spent many months, traveling from our temple in the south -- you have heard of Calimshan?  Anyway, I can only trust that the Lord of Flames will light my path.  And see the rewards of faith, Serge?  I have now found this caravan, the very one with Zeds and Krackle, who are trying to thwart a dragon cult.  I believe that this dragon cult must be the danger that our high priest spoke of, and I have joined their cause.  I do not think that they simply plan to ride a few dragons to war.  If Kossuth sent such a dire warning to the faithful, it must be a dire threat, perhaps involving the Dragon Queen herself!"  He sounds overawed at the thought but also...possibly excited?  

Malfa Spring - Caravan cook and general provisioner. 

Yara Ironforge - A dwarven man with a thick, bushy beard and muscular arms. His dark eyes are usually squinting in concentration as he examines goods or tools.

Elara Swiftfoot - A halfling woman with curly auburn hair and bright green eyes. She wears a patchwork vest over a simple tunic, and her hands are often busy weaving. 

Yara and Elara are married couple intending to make a fresh start in Waterdeep. 

Liora Sona - tall human woman with blonde hair and a no-nonsense attitude. She has a weathered appearance and has traveled with Faelsin for years.

Toren Mire - human man in his 20's with brown curly hair works as a teamster for Faelsin

Bay Mire - human man in his 30's with slick back brown hair works as a teamster for Faelsin. 

(Toren and Bay are brothers. Toren was the comatose man burned by the Hellriders. Bay was the one with the strange spider creature lodged in his throat.)

Ixsas you sense an unease in the brothers this night. Torn is biting his nails while Bay morosely looks into the fire at the center of camp. Toren looks away as his eyes meets Ixsas

The man in red is sitting on the wagon as he looks to the stars above as he continues to write in his journal. Vesax stands guard nearby like a stone statue that is unmoving and unblinking. Ixsas gets the sense that the man in red in focusing with no clear sign of malice. 

Krackle would make his way to Malfa Spring and look them up and down. "Hey... you didn't happen to feed anyone any food full of spiders or anything earlier we in the trip did you?" The kobold asks with a smile. "Like the spider Bay had stuck in his throat?... or maybe food that makes people comatose like his brother?" 

Malfa puts her hands on her hip with a scowl on her face "How dare you accuse me of such vileness! I have been putting my all into cooking nourishing meals. Why would I do any of those acts? That is a sure way to get me fired and I need this job" 

Quote from Weathervision >>

Toren Mire - human man in his 20's with brown curly hair works as a teamster for Faelsin

Bay Mire - human man in his 30's with slick back brown hair works as a teamster for Faelsin. 

(Toren and Bay are brothers. Toren was the comatose man burned by the Hellriders. Bay was the one with the strange spider creature lodged in his throat.)

Ixsas you sense an unease in the brothers this night. Torn is biting his nails while Bay morosely looks into the fire at the center of camp. Toren looks away as his eyes meets Ixsas. 

Since it sounds like Zeds is watching the red-robed man, Ixsas focuses on them first both because of what he sensed and also because they were the ones he healed over the last week.  He carries a bit of food and a cup of water and makes to sit down and rest a moment while he has a snack.  Ixsas gets a cup of water and either a bowl of tonight's dinner or a snack from his rations and goes to sit down with Toren and Bay saying, "Do you mind if I sit down and rest with you for a moment?"   If Serge is with him, Ixsas introduces the fighter as, "I wanted to introduce everyone to Serge, the fighter who helped prevent those Scorched Knights from overrunning the camp last night!"

After inquiring about their injuries and whether they're still doing well, Ixsas says, "Last night was quite frightening, but Tempus has received the knights' spirits now.  We will not see them again.  So....what troubles you this evening?"  He looks into the campfire at the center of camp while he asks that, not directing the question at either brother in particular.  

Toren seems agitated as he fidgets. He looks to his brother and shyly back at Ixsas "What if something worse comes. I never thought I would see the undead, but it happened, and I almost died. That changes you or it did me. I keep having nightmares and I just hope we can reach Waterdeep as soon as possible. After that I quit" 

Quote from Weathervision >>

Toren seems agitated as he fidgets. He looks to his brother and shyly back at Ixsas "What if something worse comes. I never thought I would see the undead, but it happened, and I almost died. That changes you or it did me. I keep having nightmares and I just hope we can reach Waterdeep as soon as possible. After that I quit" 

Ixsas tries to reassure Toren, in his own way, "Yes, there are many dark horrors in the world, but, with Faith we may find the courage to face them.  'The fires of suffering become the light of purpose.'"  Seeing that probably didn't help, he says bracingly, "Keep your focus on your work.  We'll reach Waterdeep in a few weeks.  And we'll all get a break soon at Carnath House." 

Ixsas asks the brother, "Are you quitting once we reach Waterdeep too, Bay?"  Then to both, "Do you have enough money to live in Waterdeep?  Or do you hope to find work there?"  Ixsas doesn't have a strong understanding of money since he was raised at a temple, but he understands that most people must work to earn coin for their food and lodging.      "Maybe aboard one of the ships?  Perhaps you'd be interested in joining a holy order?  I could recommend you to the Eternal Flame at the nearest temple of Kossuth."  Although he has never been to Waterdeep, he understands that there are big ships there, and he was told that there was a temple to Kossuth in the city somewhere.  That's where he was headed when he joined Faelsin's caravan.

Ixsas watches the brothers to see whether their answers ring true or whether they're hiding something.  Insight 14

Krackle insight 24

Toren is quick to answer for both of them "I am sure Bay will quit as well and we can find work once we reach Waterdeep. I have never been particularly devout I don't mind visiting a temple in the city." 

Bay does not answer as he mindlessly throws some grass blades into the fire. 

Ixsas insight does not reveal much beyond an unease in Toren and Bay seeming to be more withdrawn.