krackle smiles as he listens to Ixsas's Story. when the story is finished The kobold seems to relax a bit as tough a weight has been lifted from. his shoulders. this doesn't last long however, Because Kracvkle immediately loses his smile as his entire body tenses up at Serge's question. "Well... Zeds and I came across some innocent creatures while we worked to clear iut a cultist cave. the creatures were destined to be used by the evil dragon cultists the same way they were using sweet krackle jr..... so after much effort and a long discussion.... I was able to save on dragon egg. I plan to raise the dragon to be good and to help others. I have been judged poorly my whole life and I don't want the same thing to happen to this innocent creature.." The kobold says quietly as he clutches the bag a bit tighter.
Serge stops laughing. He looks, wide eyed at Krackle, then at Zeds. "Are you serious?" he asks of Krackle and almost simultaneously, "And you knew of this?" to Zeds.
With a hiss of breath, he lowers his voice and looks around conspicuously. "Who else knows of this? What would you have been thinking? Do you know what became of the mother? Is there some 20 ton dragon out there searching for that egg? And what on earth are you planning to do once it hatches? A dragon is no baby! By Helm, they come out of the egg near the very top of the food chain and..." he sucks in another breath, his previous panic turning instantly into real panic. "What color is it? Gods, be good. At least tell me it's a metallic dragon...".
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
PC - Ethel - Human - Lvl 4 Necromancer - Undying Dragons * Serge Marshblade - Human - Lvl 5 Eldritch Knight - Hoard of the Dragon Queen
DM -(Homebrew) Heroes of Bardstown *Red Dead Annihilation: ToA *Where the Cold Winds Blow : DoIP * Covetous, Dragonish Thoughts: HotDQ * Red Wine, Black Rose: CoS * Greyhawk: Tides of War
I was able to save on dragon egg. I plan to raise the dragon to be good and to help others. I have been judged poorly my whole life and I don't want the same thing to happen to this innocent creature.." The kobold says quietly as he clutches the bag a bit tighter.
While Ixsas has undoubtably seen Krackle caring for his egg (passive perception 17), but he assumed that it was an egg for another giant lizard like Krackle Jr. Or at most a guard drake that Krackle planned to train. His green eyes open wide, and he lets out a surprised exclamation: "A dragon egg!"
Ixsas shares a "look" with Serge, but he refrains from saying anything more. He is not confident that Krackle will be able to override the dragon's own nature, and he fears that Krackle will be killed by the very dragon he hatches. On the other hand, Ixsas feels that Kossuth would not have sent him north to trouble with a single dragon egg and its kobold "parent." No, his quest must be to stop the Dragon Cult, and he'll remain focused on that. Without the foresight of the high priests, it's impossible to guess what will become of Krackle's dragon. Besides, it's possible that the dragon egg just never hatches!
Serge can tell that Krackle is NOT joking and there is a good chance that Ixsas could see that the dragon egg appeared to be black.. but maybe it just looked that way because it was tucked in a dark bag...
"Hey!" The kobold shouts before quickly looking around and lowering his voice to a whisper. "I don't know what happened to the mother. When we found the dragon egg it was being cared for by a bunch of cultists.... Tiamat Cultists that WE defeated. Dragons are intelligent creatures just like each of us.. intelligent creatures with free will that can learn right from wrong." The kobold snaps back. "You cannot tell me that a dragon raised by someone good is destined to behave the same way as a dragon raised by evil cultists determined to destroy the world." He adds, making sure to keep the flap on his pack closed tightly to hide the color of the egg within. "I've got the blood of dragons inside me... I can FEEL it." Krackle demands as a tiny wisp of smoke drifts from his nostrils. "I know what it's like to be hated for what you are... hated for just simply existing... You ever think that maybe some dragons are evil because that is all they have ever known!? They were raised by dragons that had only ever been hated by everyone around them... and so that was all they knew.. that was all they could teach their children." The small kobolds body heaves up and down as he takes deep breaths. "I am going to protect this innocent creature... and I am going to try my best to teach them how to be good and kind... even if it kills me." The kobold says defiantly as his voice gets much softer and a little shaky towards the end.
Ixsas thinks that his quest is to thwart the Dragon Cult, but that's less about the dragons themselves and presumably more about preventing Tiamat's ascendence. Ixsas isn't aware of any teachings about Kossuth and dragons, and he doesn't think that he has any duty to act in this situation. His religion's catechism is mostly about elemental forces, eschatological doctrine, and the church's central place in showing the Faithful the one true path.
Ixsas has never heard a story of a chromatic dragon that isn't evil, but then he's never heard a story of a true dragon raised by a kobold. He tries to smooth things over by saying, "Well, the egg isn't likely to hatch suddenly or even any time soon. Krackle shows admirable concern and responsibility for his charge. For now, we should think about tomorrow's destination, Carnath House, and anything we can do to prepare for what we may find there."
Zeds listens to Bay and Toren as understandingly and sympathetically as he could. He did his best to just listen and commiserate and not try to offer solutions - Because he had none but also because often people get defensive when help is offered when they're not ready for it. "I know little about such deals... Would you mind if I did some research on the subject? Discreetly? I'll of course share anything I find..." he asks and offers. If pressed he'll admit he thinks his companions may know more and wanted to ask them but won't if they object. Though he assures nobody will do anything without their agreeing to it.
If they agree, Zeds shares what he was told with the others. If they do not agree, Zeds discreetly shares what he was told with the others but warns them he was told this in confidence and the others should not let on what he told them.
When Serge has his surge of concern about the egg, Zeds mostly just shrugs in a "what can you do?" kind of way. "Little dude is protective of his egg," he says.
Moving a bit closer to Serge so he can talk low and hopefully be unheard by Krackle, he continues: "That egg has been through a lot. Better than even money it's never going to hatch, if it was even viable when we first found it. If it does hatch? Well that may be a tricky moment or two but I don't think there's any newborn struggling to open it's eyes for the first time that I couldn't put down if needed..."
Zeds knows he's being a bit cavalier about the whole thing even as he says it. Truth is, he had intended to damage or destroy the damned thing some night while Krackle slept. At least he had intended to in the early days after Krackle's adopting it. Over time though... it just became less and less a concern. He just grew to used to it being around to find it as too much of a threat.
Serge steps back a pace after Zeds is done, looking back and forth between his three allies. Then he huffs, running a hand through his long hair, dirty from the trail.
"I need some time, with all this," he says, unwilling to push the conversation any further at the moment. He turns and walks off at slightly brisker pace than usual, his chainmail rattling around him. "I'll take first watch tonight," he calls back over his shoulder.
Serge begins his rounds, too lost in his thoughts over this new, black, acid-spewing wrinkle to be at his best for his watch duties. Perception: 4
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
PC - Ethel - Human - Lvl 4 Necromancer - Undying Dragons * Serge Marshblade - Human - Lvl 5 Eldritch Knight - Hoard of the Dragon Queen
DM -(Homebrew) Heroes of Bardstown *Red Dead Annihilation: ToA *Where the Cold Winds Blow : DoIP * Covetous, Dragonish Thoughts: HotDQ * Red Wine, Black Rose: CoS * Greyhawk: Tides of War
Serge steps back a pace after Zeds is done, looking back and forth between his three allies. Then he huffs, running a hand through his long hair, dirty from the trail.
"I need some time, with all this," he says, unwilling to push the conversation any further at the moment. He turns and walks off at slightly brisker pace than usual, his chainmail rattling around him. "I'll take first watch tonight," he calls back over his shoulder.
Ixsas watches Serge walk off thoughtfully. He turns to Krackle and says, "Let him walk off his distress. You and your dragon blood are fine, of course, but since his brother was killed by the Dragon Cult, Serge probably has complex feelings about dragons and their followers."
Ixsas then asks Zeds to share what he learned about Toren. Ixsas listens with obvious concern. He says, "I have studied divine magic, but that is something different." His holds his holy symbol and prays for Kossuth's light to guide his thoughts, thinking back to stories conversations he has had on the road since leaving Calimshan and even to odd tales from far off lands in his youth. He seems to remember hearing about something similar before.
Arcana21, including +2 bonus from Guidance (in game log)
((OOC: Lucky roll! I was originally planning to cast Enhance Ability on Serge for this check.))
((OOC: Does that Arcana check give Ixsas any knowledge about the entity with whom Toren made a deal or any clue how they might help Toren get out of it?))
(Yes, Ixsas can roll Arcana to see if he can learn anything of this entity.)
((Yeah, I skipped ahead and already rolled a skill check since Zeds had talked about sharing with the party earlier. I was referring to my roll posted just above....))
Ixsas puts the clues together and with their arcane knowledge knows that Nyatharel could be a Night Hag as they have a fondness of haunting people's dream from the Ethereal Plane. Ixsas also knows that these haunting slowly kills the slumbering targets.
Ixsas puts the clues together and with their arcane knowledge knows that Nyatharel could be a Night Hag as they have a fondness of haunting people's dream from the Ethereal Plane. Ixsas also knows that these haunting slowly kills the slumbering targets.
Ixsas prays and thinks for a moment. Then his eyes open, and there's a look of dawning realization on his face. If Serge is no longer with them, Ixsas excuses himself for a moment to fetch Serge. He thinks everyone should hear about this new danger at the same time.
Once the whole group is together, Ixsas shares, "Based on what Toren told Zeds, Kossuth has shone a light on an old memory. I was in the streets around our temple as a young boy on an errand for the high priest. I came across a bard telling fairy tales about monsters who would catch and gobble up wicked children. But one story, in particular, about a night hag: an evil fiend who can reach out form the Ethereal Plane to give a mortal nightmares. Since then, I have read that night hags will often choose a particular mortal and then haunt their nightmares repeatedly as the mortal grows more weary night after night from lack of rest. The exhaustion will eventually kill a man unless you can use powerful magic to drive off the hag or to shield him from the hag's touch."
Ixsas says, "I fear that Nyatharel, this entity with whom Toren made a bargain, is a night hag. Now, in the story, it was easy for the hag to return every night to haunt a holy knight in his home. He only survived by going to a shrine and sleeping every night on hallowed ground. But Toren has been traveling with us on the road. I'm not sure how the hag finds him every night. Perhaps he carries some token of his bargain that helps her find him? Or...can't hags also shift into other forms? A sort of fey glamour that allows her to pass as a normal human and not a hideous creature twisted by her own wickedness. Has anyone noticed whether anyone in the caravan goes missing at night while Toren is having nightmares? If the hag is among us, I may know a way to detect her, possibly even if she's stalking Toren from the Ethereal Plane."
Ixsas looks worried. He expains that even if he can detect the hag, he's not sure whether he can help Toren. He does not know how to drive away a night hag completely. Maybe Remove Curse would free Toren from his bargain, but only very powerful magic could cure him or hold off the hag for good. If he had the materials, a Magic Circle might allow Toren to rest for a while, but Ixsas is worried that the hag would simply manifest in the real world and attack him for interfering in her affairs. Unless they have something more valuable to offer the hag, she could just return to haunt Toren the next night.
"Do you need to know what this hag looks like to detect her?" Zeds asks. "If we know what they look like I'm not sure why we would need such detection?"
"My first thought would be the red robed wizard and his companion, but he was not with us at the start nor have we seen since he left. I don't think I have noticed anyone disappearing but I mostly watch the perimeter on my watch, not do bed checks. Do they need to be close? Surely just running far enough away isn't a way to cheat yourself out of their bargain?" Zeds asks. Magic and it's rules perplex him. "But if it is some kind of token, perhaps he or his brother would have an idea?"
"Do you need to know what this hag looks like to detect her?" Zeds asks. "If we know what they look like I'm not sure why we would need such detection?"
"No, I don't," Ixsas says. "I mean, a hag supposedly looks like a hideous and evil old woman, but she can use magic to disguise herself completely. But each moment that Kossuth's fire rages, it burns away a hundred veils! Even if she has disguised herself with magic to move among us, his Light should reveal her to me."
"My first thought would be the red robed wizard and his companion, but he was not with us at the start nor have we seen since he left. I don't think I have noticed anyone disappearing but I mostly watch the perimeter on my watch, not do bed checks. Do they need to be close? Surely just running far enough away isn't a way to cheat yourself out of their bargain?" Zeds asks. Magic and it's rules perplex him. "But if it is some kind of token, perhaps he or his brother would have an idea?"
"This part, I don't understand as well," Ixsas admits. "In the old story of the paladin, she had to 'touch' him each night to influence his dreams. But she did it from the world of wraiths and spirits. Neither the castle wall nor a locked door could hide him from her. 'Though the paladin thrashed about in his sleep, his guards could not see her nor touch her with their swords.' There are various things I could try, and I may be able to ward her away from him temporarily, but I think that she could always just find him again the next night. He could try to run and hide from her, but hags are skilled in twisted and evil magics. It's possible that they could find him through magic, and Kossuth does not grant me the power ward against such divinations."
"Didn't you remove some kind of magic from his mind? Maybe the connection is cut now?" Krackle suggests with a look of concern. "I suppose We could put Toren in my carriage tonight and lock the door. Maybe a couple of us could sit in there with him and see if anything comes for him as he sleeps." The kobold looks towards Toren and then to his carriage and then back to his companions. "But he had to promise not to do anything to mess up my house.
"Didn't you remove some kind of magic from his mind? Maybe the connection is cut now?" Krackle suggests with a look of concern. "I suppose We could put Toren in my carriage tonight and lock the door. Maybe a couple of us could sit in there with him and see if anything comes for him as he sleeps." The kobold looks towards Toren and then to his carriage and then back to his companions. "But he had to promise not to do anything to mess up my house.
"I did," Ixsas says. "But I broke the spell when we were in the Trollclaws, on the night before we met the villagers from Willowford. That was...", he counts the days on his fingers, "...three nights ago. Toren was still having bad dreams and looking tired in the days and nights since then. Kossuth knows that we've had a series of frightening encounters along the road, but I suspect that Toren is still troubled by the hag at night. The enchantment that I broke could be some other part of his bargain, maybe not even known to him. Maybe it was a spell to force him to do something else for the hag? Or maybe it was unrelated, some parting gift of that red-robed wizard perhaps? I am glad that Toren's trouble does not seem to be related to the Dragon Cult, but I fear that he will die if we cannot help him drive off the hag that troubles him. Since Toren is a member of the caravan at least through Waterdeep, I feel some responsibility for him until then."
Ixsas smiles at the thought of the carriage as a home. He reassures the kobold kindly, "I do not think that you need to trouble about your rolling home, Krackle. If Nyatharel is a night hag, then she probably assails him from the spirit world. In that case, I do not believe that a carriage door -- nor even a stone wall -- would be an impediment to the her."
"I just thought if someone did have to touch him each night to make him have bad dreams then it might make it easier for us to spot them" Krackle says with a nod.
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krackle smiles as he listens to Ixsas's Story. when the story is finished The kobold seems to relax a bit as tough a weight has been lifted from. his shoulders. this doesn't last long however, Because Kracvkle immediately loses his smile as his entire body tenses up at Serge's question. "Well... Zeds and I came across some innocent creatures while we worked to clear iut a cultist cave. the creatures were destined to be used by the evil dragon cultists the same way they were using sweet krackle jr..... so after much effort and a long discussion.... I was able to save on dragon egg. I plan to raise the dragon to be good and to help others. I have been judged poorly my whole life and I don't want the same thing to happen to this innocent creature.." The kobold says quietly as he clutches the bag a bit tighter.
Serge laughs nervously.
[Insight to tell if Krackle is joking: 17]
Serge stops laughing. He looks, wide eyed at Krackle, then at Zeds. "Are you serious?" he asks of Krackle and almost simultaneously, "And you knew of this?" to Zeds.
With a hiss of breath, he lowers his voice and looks around conspicuously. "Who else knows of this? What would you have been thinking? Do you know what became of the mother? Is there some 20 ton dragon out there searching for that egg? And what on earth are you planning to do once it hatches? A dragon is no baby! By Helm, they come out of the egg near the very top of the food chain and..." he sucks in another breath, his previous panic turning instantly into real panic. "What color is it? Gods, be good. At least tell me it's a metallic dragon...".
PC - Ethel - Human - Lvl 4 Necromancer - Undying Dragons * Serge Marshblade - Human - Lvl 5 Eldritch Knight - Hoard of the Dragon Queen
DM - (Homebrew) Heroes of Bardstown * Red Dead Annihilation: ToA * Where the Cold Winds Blow : DoIP * Covetous, Dragonish Thoughts: HotDQ * Red Wine, Black Rose: CoS * Greyhawk: Tides of War
While Ixsas has undoubtably seen Krackle caring for his egg (passive perception 17), but he assumed that it was an egg for another giant lizard like Krackle Jr. Or at most a guard drake that Krackle planned to train. His green eyes open wide, and he lets out a surprised exclamation: "A dragon egg!"
Ixsas shares a "look" with Serge, but he refrains from saying anything more. He is not confident that Krackle will be able to override the dragon's own nature, and he fears that Krackle will be killed by the very dragon he hatches. On the other hand, Ixsas feels that Kossuth would not have sent him north to trouble with a single dragon egg and its kobold "parent." No, his quest must be to stop the Dragon Cult, and he'll remain focused on that. Without the foresight of the high priests, it's impossible to guess what will become of Krackle's dragon. Besides, it's possible that the dragon egg just never hatches!
Serge can tell that Krackle is NOT joking and there is a good chance that Ixsas could see that the dragon egg appeared to be black.. but maybe it just looked that way because it was tucked in a dark bag...
"Hey!" The kobold shouts before quickly looking around and lowering his voice to a whisper. "I don't know what happened to the mother. When we found the dragon egg it was being cared for by a bunch of cultists.... Tiamat Cultists that WE defeated. Dragons are intelligent creatures just like each of us.. intelligent creatures with free will that can learn right from wrong." The kobold snaps back. "You cannot tell me that a dragon raised by someone good is destined to behave the same way as a dragon raised by evil cultists determined to destroy the world." He adds, making sure to keep the flap on his pack closed tightly to hide the color of the egg within. "I've got the blood of dragons inside me... I can FEEL it." Krackle demands as a tiny wisp of smoke drifts from his nostrils. "I know what it's like to be hated for what you are... hated for just simply existing... You ever think that maybe some dragons are evil because that is all they have ever known!? They were raised by dragons that had only ever been hated by everyone around them... and so that was all they knew.. that was all they could teach their children." The small kobolds body heaves up and down as he takes deep breaths. "I am going to protect this innocent creature... and I am going to try my best to teach them how to be good and kind... even if it kills me." The kobold says defiantly as his voice gets much softer and a little shaky towards the end.
Ixsas thinks that his quest is to thwart the Dragon Cult, but that's less about the dragons themselves and presumably more about preventing Tiamat's ascendence. Ixsas isn't aware of any teachings about Kossuth and dragons, and he doesn't think that he has any duty to act in this situation. His religion's catechism is mostly about elemental forces, eschatological doctrine, and the church's central place in showing the Faithful the one true path.
Ixsas has never heard a story of a chromatic dragon that isn't evil, but then he's never heard a story of a true dragon raised by a kobold. He tries to smooth things over by saying, "Well, the egg isn't likely to hatch suddenly or even any time soon. Krackle shows admirable concern and responsibility for his charge. For now, we should think about tomorrow's destination, Carnath House, and anything we can do to prepare for what we may find there."
Zeds listens to Bay and Toren as understandingly and sympathetically as he could. He did his best to just listen and commiserate and not try to offer solutions - Because he had none but also because often people get defensive when help is offered when they're not ready for it. "I know little about such deals... Would you mind if I did some research on the subject? Discreetly? I'll of course share anything I find..." he asks and offers. If pressed he'll admit he thinks his companions may know more and wanted to ask them but won't if they object. Though he assures nobody will do anything without their agreeing to it.
If they agree, Zeds shares what he was told with the others. If they do not agree, Zeds discreetly shares what he was told with the others but warns them he was told this in confidence and the others should not let on what he told them.
When Serge has his surge of concern about the egg, Zeds mostly just shrugs in a "what can you do?" kind of way. "Little dude is protective of his egg," he says.
Moving a bit closer to Serge so he can talk low and hopefully be unheard by Krackle, he continues: "That egg has been through a lot. Better than even money it's never going to hatch, if it was even viable when we first found it. If it does hatch? Well that may be a tricky moment or two but I don't think there's any newborn struggling to open it's eyes for the first time that I couldn't put down if needed..."
Zeds knows he's being a bit cavalier about the whole thing even as he says it. Truth is, he had intended to damage or destroy the damned thing some night while Krackle slept. At least he had intended to in the early days after Krackle's adopting it. Over time though... it just became less and less a concern. He just grew to used to it being around to find it as too much of a threat.
Krackle perception check to see if he hears Zeds... 5
Serge steps back a pace after Zeds is done, looking back and forth between his three allies. Then he huffs, running a hand through his long hair, dirty from the trail.
"I need some time, with all this," he says, unwilling to push the conversation any further at the moment. He turns and walks off at slightly brisker pace than usual, his chainmail rattling around him. "I'll take first watch tonight," he calls back over his shoulder.
Serge begins his rounds, too lost in his thoughts over this new, black, acid-spewing wrinkle to be at his best for his watch duties. Perception: 4
PC - Ethel - Human - Lvl 4 Necromancer - Undying Dragons * Serge Marshblade - Human - Lvl 5 Eldritch Knight - Hoard of the Dragon Queen
DM - (Homebrew) Heroes of Bardstown * Red Dead Annihilation: ToA * Where the Cold Winds Blow : DoIP * Covetous, Dragonish Thoughts: HotDQ * Red Wine, Black Rose: CoS * Greyhawk: Tides of War
Ixsas watches Serge walk off thoughtfully. He turns to Krackle and says, "Let him walk off his distress. You and your dragon blood are fine, of course, but since his brother was killed by the Dragon Cult, Serge probably has complex feelings about dragons and their followers."
Ixsas then asks Zeds to share what he learned about Toren. Ixsas listens with obvious concern. He says, "I have studied divine magic, but that is something different." His holds his holy symbol and prays for Kossuth's light to guide his thoughts, thinking back to stories conversations he has had on the road since leaving Calimshan and even to odd tales from far off lands in his youth. He seems to remember hearing about something similar before.
Arcana 21, including +2 bonus from Guidance (in game log)
((OOC: Lucky roll! I was originally planning to cast Enhance Ability on Serge for this check.))
Bay and Toren agrees that Zeds can share what he had heard as he looks into this situation.
((OOC: Does that Arcana check give Ixsas any knowledge about the entity with whom Toren made a deal or any clue how they might help Toren get out of it?))
(Yes, Ixsas can roll Arcana to see if he can learn anything of this entity.)
((Yeah, I skipped ahead and already rolled a skill check since Zeds had talked about sharing with the party earlier. I was referring to my roll posted just above....))
Ixsas puts the clues together and with their arcane knowledge knows that Nyatharel could be a Night Hag as they have a fondness of haunting people's dream from the Ethereal Plane. Ixsas also knows that these haunting slowly kills the slumbering targets.
Ixsas prays and thinks for a moment. Then his eyes open, and there's a look of dawning realization on his face. If Serge is no longer with them, Ixsas excuses himself for a moment to fetch Serge. He thinks everyone should hear about this new danger at the same time.
Once the whole group is together, Ixsas shares, "Based on what Toren told Zeds, Kossuth has shone a light on an old memory. I was in the streets around our temple as a young boy on an errand for the high priest. I came across a bard telling fairy tales about monsters who would catch and gobble up wicked children. But one story, in particular, about a night hag: an evil fiend who can reach out form the Ethereal Plane to give a mortal nightmares. Since then, I have read that night hags will often choose a particular mortal and then haunt their nightmares repeatedly as the mortal grows more weary night after night from lack of rest. The exhaustion will eventually kill a man unless you can use powerful magic to drive off the hag or to shield him from the hag's touch."
Ixsas says, "I fear that Nyatharel, this entity with whom Toren made a bargain, is a night hag. Now, in the story, it was easy for the hag to return every night to haunt a holy knight in his home. He only survived by going to a shrine and sleeping every night on hallowed ground. But Toren has been traveling with us on the road. I'm not sure how the hag finds him every night. Perhaps he carries some token of his bargain that helps her find him? Or...can't hags also shift into other forms? A sort of fey glamour that allows her to pass as a normal human and not a hideous creature twisted by her own wickedness. Has anyone noticed whether anyone in the caravan goes missing at night while Toren is having nightmares? If the hag is among us, I may know a way to detect her, possibly even if she's stalking Toren from the Ethereal Plane."
Ixsas looks worried. He expains that even if he can detect the hag, he's not sure whether he can help Toren. He does not know how to drive away a night hag completely. Maybe Remove Curse would free Toren from his bargain, but only very powerful magic could cure him or hold off the hag for good. If he had the materials, a Magic Circle might allow Toren to rest for a while, but Ixsas is worried that the hag would simply manifest in the real world and attack him for interfering in her affairs. Unless they have something more valuable to offer the hag, she could just return to haunt Toren the next night.
"Do you need to know what this hag looks like to detect her?" Zeds asks. "If we know what they look like I'm not sure why we would need such detection?"
"My first thought would be the red robed wizard and his companion, but he was not with us at the start nor have we seen since he left. I don't think I have noticed anyone disappearing but I mostly watch the perimeter on my watch, not do bed checks. Do they need to be close? Surely just running far enough away isn't a way to cheat yourself out of their bargain?" Zeds asks. Magic and it's rules perplex him. "But if it is some kind of token, perhaps he or his brother would have an idea?"
"No, I don't," Ixsas says. "I mean, a hag supposedly looks like a hideous and evil old woman, but she can use magic to disguise herself completely. But each moment that Kossuth's fire rages, it burns away a hundred veils! Even if she has disguised herself with magic to move among us, his Light should reveal her to me."
"This part, I don't understand as well," Ixsas admits. "In the old story of the paladin, she had to 'touch' him each night to influence his dreams. But she did it from the world of wraiths and spirits. Neither the castle wall nor a locked door could hide him from her. 'Though the paladin thrashed about in his sleep, his guards could not see her nor touch her with their swords.' There are various things I could try, and I may be able to ward her away from him temporarily, but I think that she could always just find him again the next night. He could try to run and hide from her, but hags are skilled in twisted and evil magics. It's possible that they could find him through magic, and Kossuth does not grant me the power ward against such divinations."
"Didn't you remove some kind of magic from his mind? Maybe the connection is cut now?" Krackle suggests with a look of concern. "I suppose We could put Toren in my carriage tonight and lock the door. Maybe a couple of us could sit in there with him and see if anything comes for him as he sleeps." The kobold looks towards Toren and then to his carriage and then back to his companions. "But he had to promise not to do anything to mess up my house.
"I did," Ixsas says. "But I broke the spell when we were in the Trollclaws, on the night before we met the villagers from Willowford. That was...", he counts the days on his fingers, "...three nights ago. Toren was still having bad dreams and looking tired in the days and nights since then. Kossuth knows that we've had a series of frightening encounters along the road, but I suspect that Toren is still troubled by the hag at night. The enchantment that I broke could be some other part of his bargain, maybe not even known to him. Maybe it was a spell to force him to do something else for the hag? Or maybe it was unrelated, some parting gift of that red-robed wizard perhaps? I am glad that Toren's trouble does not seem to be related to the Dragon Cult, but I fear that he will die if we cannot help him drive off the hag that troubles him. Since Toren is a member of the caravan at least through Waterdeep, I feel some responsibility for him until then."
Ixsas smiles at the thought of the carriage as a home. He reassures the kobold kindly, "I do not think that you need to trouble about your rolling home, Krackle. If Nyatharel is a night hag, then she probably assails him from the spirit world. In that case, I do not believe that a carriage door -- nor even a stone wall -- would be an impediment to the her."
"I just thought if someone did have to touch him each night to make him have bad dreams then it might make it easier for us to spot them" Krackle says with a nod.