The young blonde selûnite follows the others for cover behind the pine trees, calling upon her divine powers to stay warm. "This was...unexpected." She says, peeking over at the large lodge. "I believe we must assume the cult is in control of the building and that it at least serves as another waypoint for the stolen treasures. We should try to take this opportunity to rest though, before investigating the lodge. I suggest we try to find shelter closeby where we can recuperate and prepare to enter the lodge."
(Prestidigitation) (Arcana to determine if the teleportation circle can be disabled somehow: 8 + Guidance: 4 )
The young blonde selûnite follows the others for cover behind the pine trees, calling upon her divine powers to stay warm. "This was...unexpected." She says, peeking over at the large lodge. "I believe we must assume the cult is in control of the building and that it at least serves as another waypoint for the stolen treasures. We should try to take this opportunity to rest though, before investigating the lodge. I suggest we try to find shelter closeby where we can recuperate and prepare to enter the lodge."
Ixsas agrees with a least a brief rest before attempting to approach the buildings. He says, "I'd at least like to find a spot where we I can examine Zeds again and make sure that he's not getting any worse!"
Ixsas also responds to Seraphina, saying "Yes, I am also surprised. I expected that we'd leave the Castle only to go further into the swamp, perhaps to the lair of the black dragons we saw. Now, we have followed the trail of the treasure, but we don't know where we are! Based on the cold, I'd guess that we're close to the frozen north." Again, since he lived near the Calim Desert, Ixsas has never experienced freezing temperatures.
Ixsas continues, "As you say, this building is clearly another waypoint on the journey..." Here, he looks from his left to his right and opens his arms to encompass their surroundings before saying, "...there's not even a village in sight. Nowhere to spend the treasure. Unless they're just gathering a dragon hoard in the Lodge." That was clearly meant as a joke since Ixsas chuckles a little behind his headscarf. He explains his thinking, "There's no road suitable for a wagon here, and we seem to be on a mountain. So, no seaport nearby. If the cult brings a wagon of stolen treasure here, then they must have some way to move it on from here. If not through the sky, then there must be another one of these wizard circles. Who knows where that one will lead! But we must attempt to find out. The only question is how long to rest before we investigate these buildings..."
"We could go back," Zeds suggests. Or perhaps just questions. There was that querying inflection in his voice.
"I mean, does the circle work both ways? If so we could maybe do something like go back and rest in the caves but be ready to jump back through the circle again if they did come for us there. We could jump back here and destroy the circle, hopefully preventing them from following... But if they don't hunt us in the caves it would be a warmer place to rest with far less traveling?" Zeds says, explaining his thought process.
"Besides, they didn't bring wagons full of treasure though the casts and down that cliff to the circle to transport here, I would guess? How would a wagon fit through the castle doors to get down into the caves? Or get down that cliff?"
"Or... do we not care?" He asks a bit rhetorically. "Are we trying to solve the whole puzzle or just trying to get to the end?"
Zeds would do his part to follow through whatever plan is decided. The idea of retreating to the caves and maybe not having to travel miles on horseback just to return to the same spot has some appeal to him but he's not really in the mood to debate or argue so after proposing the idea he leaves the decision to the others...
Both Arcana checks fail to reveal whether you can break or stop the teleportation circle.
To Thrax Dralmorrer says "I suggest you release me as if whoever is here knows I am here they will know something amiss. I will not help you any longer"
Thraxinthos grimaces as Dralmorrer wiggles firmly in his grasp, despite his bindings. In the arms of one less mighty than he, their captive might have found escape. Instead his claws find the cult leader's throat, sharp nails pricking into the skin as scaled fingers tighten around the man's neck. "Worm. Enough with your squirming, worm."
He looks to his companions meaningfully, stuffing the cloth back into Dralmorrer's lips, closing the gag over his mouth. "We cannot carry this one forever. We must decide what must be done."
"You are right mighty Thrax, but if we release him I expect him to rejoin with the cult at his first opportunity. If at all possible I suggest we bring him with us until we have investigated the lodge and then see."´The young blonde selûnite says to the massive red dragonborn, then turning to the others. "I too am curious over what is done with the treasures brought here. I doubt it all ends up here, more likely it is brought on somewhere, but it seems unlikely to me that it would be either by teleportation or wagon. I'm sure we will find out once we investigate the lodge though. How far we pursue this would depend on what we find in there in my opinion. I suppose we can return to the castle but I would still prefer to find shelter in the wilderness, and I would very much prefer if we rested until we are all fully rested and recuperated. I don't think I have anything else to add and suggest we move to a decision." She finishes with a hint of impatience.
"Or... do we not care?" He asks a bit rhetorically. "Are we trying to solve the whole puzzle or just trying to get to the end?"
Ixsas is clear about his own goal. "Kossuth charged me with preventing a cataclysm," he says proudly."The world will end in fire one day," he continues in a matter-of-fact way as though he's describing how the sun rises each morning, "but not before the Firelord is ready to reclaim Toril! I want to know what the Cult of the Dragon is trying to do, and I will hinder them however I can. I hope that following the trail of their stolen treasure will lead us to answers."
"Besides, they didn't bring wagons full of treasure though the casts caves (?) and down that cliff to the circle to transport here, I would guess? How would a wagon fit through the castle doors to get down into the caves? Or get down that cliff?"
Ixsas says, "Yes, you are right, Zeds. Of course, they must have unloaded the wagons at the castle and brought the treasure here in sacks and chests. But we heard of entire towns being looted! The wagon tracks to Castle Naerytar were deep and recent. I think that the Cult of the Dragon must be gathering this treasure to use in some way...to further their goals. Maybe they have to buy steel to equip an army that they are raising? Or maybe they need to bribe officials or buy the loyalty of some small nation? But what can the cult do with gold and jewels here?"
Ixsas explains his thinking, "Merchants put their storehouses in a place where transport is easy. A city with a good sea port, like Calimport or Waterdeep. Or at least in a town along a big road, like the Trade Way. Here?" He looks around again with a shrug. "How do they transport the treasure from here? If it's a waypoint in the transportation, they must have a way to move a large amount of treasure from here. Maybe another magic circle? Or having a djinni carry it through the sky? I don't know, but the answer must lie in that building."
Ixsas immediately puts this question to the test. He gets up and moves to the spot where they arrived and says, "Draezir."
Assuming nothing happens, Ixsas says, "No, it seems that we are stuck in this frigid place, at least for now. If it is possible to travel from here to the circle under Castle Naerytar, we do not know how. Perhaps it requires a different word of command? Or maybe the portal can only be used once per day? If there is a way to do it, it may only be known by the Cult of the Dragon leader who controls this building." He nods toward the Lodge as he moves back to a spot that provides cover from anyone who may be looking out from the Lodge.
Ixsas nods in approval as Thrax again subdues their prisoner. He never would have guessed how useful it would be to have a Dragonborn in their group.
Based on what Dralmorrer has said, Ixsas is less concerned about what he will do once they release him. He says, "Dralmorrer has served his purpose, and he showed us the way out of Castle Naerytar as he promised. I believe that he is not eager to return to the Cult of the Dragon. I suspect that the cult is not kind to those who fail. Dralmorrer lost control of Castle Naerytar, and if they do not simply kill him for his failure, he will have lost all of his position and power within the cult." He looks at the gagged prisoner and asks shrewdly, "It is better to take your 'talents' elsewhere, is it not? Build a new base of power separate from the Cult of the Dragon."
On the other hand, Ixsas admits, "But it would be unwise to release him here: if Dralmorrer could betray us to the cult, I'm sure he would! We must keep him with us for a little while longer, until we are rested and ready to return here to explore this building. I do not think that he would risk following us back here. If we do not kill him, his rivals within the cult almost certainly would!"
The young blonde selûnite follows the others for cover behind the pine trees, calling upon her divine powers to stay warm. "This was...unexpected." She says, peeking over at the large lodge. "I believe we must assume the cult is in control of the building and that it at least serves as another waypoint for the stolen treasures. We should try to take this opportunity to rest though, before investigating the lodge. I suggest we try to find shelter closeby where we can recuperate and prepare to enter the lodge."
(Prestidigitation)
(Arcana to determine if the teleportation circle can be disabled somehow: 8 + Guidance: 4 )
Ixsas agrees with a least a brief rest before attempting to approach the buildings. He says, "I'd at least like to find a spot where we I can examine Zeds again and make sure that he's not getting any worse!"
Ixsas also responds to Seraphina, saying "Yes, I am also surprised. I expected that we'd leave the Castle only to go further into the swamp, perhaps to the lair of the black dragons we saw. Now, we have followed the trail of the treasure, but we don't know where we are! Based on the cold, I'd guess that we're close to the frozen north." Again, since he lived near the Calim Desert, Ixsas has never experienced freezing temperatures.
Ixsas continues, "As you say, this building is clearly another waypoint on the journey..." Here, he looks from his left to his right and opens his arms to encompass their surroundings before saying, "...there's not even a village in sight. Nowhere to spend the treasure. Unless they're just gathering a dragon hoard in the Lodge." That was clearly meant as a joke since Ixsas chuckles a little behind his headscarf. He explains his thinking, "There's no road suitable for a wagon here, and we seem to be on a mountain. So, no seaport nearby. If the cult brings a wagon of stolen treasure here, then they must have some way to move it on from here. If not through the sky, then there must be another one of these wizard circles. Who knows where that one will lead! But we must attempt to find out. The only question is how long to rest before we investigate these buildings..."
"We could go back," Zeds suggests. Or perhaps just questions. There was that querying inflection in his voice.
"I mean, does the circle work both ways? If so we could maybe do something like go back and rest in the caves but be ready to jump back through the circle again if they did come for us there. We could jump back here and destroy the circle, hopefully preventing them from following... But if they don't hunt us in the caves it would be a warmer place to rest with far less traveling?" Zeds says, explaining his thought process.
"Besides, they didn't bring wagons full of treasure though the casts and down that cliff to the circle to transport here, I would guess? How would a wagon fit through the castle doors to get down into the caves? Or get down that cliff?"
"Or... do we not care?" He asks a bit rhetorically. "Are we trying to solve the whole puzzle or just trying to get to the end?"
Zeds would do his part to follow through whatever plan is decided. The idea of retreating to the caves and maybe not having to travel miles on horseback just to return to the same spot has some appeal to him but he's not really in the mood to debate or argue so after proposing the idea he leaves the decision to the others...
Both Arcana checks fail to reveal whether you can break or stop the teleportation circle.
To Thrax Dralmorrer says "I suggest you release me as if whoever is here knows I am here they will know something amiss. I will not help you any longer"
He tries to struggle free
Athletics Disadvantage.
16
Thrax can roll athletics to keep hold of him.
Thraxinthos grimaces as Dralmorrer wiggles firmly in his grasp, despite his bindings. In the arms of one less mighty than he, their captive might have found escape. Instead his claws find the cult leader's throat, sharp nails pricking into the skin as scaled fingers tighten around the man's neck. "Worm. Enough with your squirming, worm."
He looks to his companions meaningfully, stuffing the cloth back into Dralmorrer's lips, closing the gag over his mouth. "We cannot carry this one forever. We must decide what must be done."
Athletics: 22
"You are right mighty Thrax, but if we release him I expect him to rejoin with the cult at his first opportunity. If at all possible I suggest we bring him with us until we have investigated the lodge and then see."´The young blonde selûnite says to the massive red dragonborn, then turning to the others. "I too am curious over what is done with the treasures brought here. I doubt it all ends up here, more likely it is brought on somewhere, but it seems unlikely to me that it would be either by teleportation or wagon. I'm sure we will find out once we investigate the lodge though. How far we pursue this would depend on what we find in there in my opinion. I suppose we can return to the castle but I would still prefer to find shelter in the wilderness, and I would very much prefer if we rested until we are all fully rested and recuperated. I don't think I have anything else to add and suggest we move to a decision." She finishes with a hint of impatience.
Ixsas is clear about his own goal. "Kossuth charged me with preventing a cataclysm," he says proudly. "The world will end in fire one day," he continues in a matter-of-fact way as though he's describing how the sun rises each morning, "but not before the Firelord is ready to reclaim Toril! I want to know what the Cult of the Dragon is trying to do, and I will hinder them however I can. I hope that following the trail of their stolen treasure will lead us to answers."
Ixsas says, "Yes, you are right, Zeds. Of course, they must have unloaded the wagons at the castle and brought the treasure here in sacks and chests. But we heard of entire towns being looted! The wagon tracks to Castle Naerytar were deep and recent. I think that the Cult of the Dragon must be gathering this treasure to use in some way...to further their goals. Maybe they have to buy steel to equip an army that they are raising? Or maybe they need to bribe officials or buy the loyalty of some small nation? But what can the cult do with gold and jewels here?"
Ixsas explains his thinking, "Merchants put their storehouses in a place where transport is easy. A city with a good sea port, like Calimport or Waterdeep. Or at least in a town along a big road, like the Trade Way. Here?" He looks around again with a shrug. "How do they transport the treasure from here? If it's a waypoint in the transportation, they must have a way to move a large amount of treasure from here. Maybe another magic circle? Or having a djinni carry it through the sky? I don't know, but the answer must lie in that building."
Ixsas immediately puts this question to the test. He gets up and moves to the spot where they arrived and says, "Draezir."
Assuming nothing happens, Ixsas says, "No, it seems that we are stuck in this frigid place, at least for now. If it is possible to travel from here to the circle under Castle Naerytar, we do not know how. Perhaps it requires a different word of command? Or maybe the portal can only be used once per day? If there is a way to do it, it may only be known by the Cult of the Dragon leader who controls this building." He nods toward the Lodge as he moves back to a spot that provides cover from anyone who may be looking out from the Lodge.
Ixsas nods in approval as Thrax again subdues their prisoner. He never would have guessed how useful it would be to have a Dragonborn in their group.
Based on what Dralmorrer has said, Ixsas is less concerned about what he will do once they release him. He says, "Dralmorrer has served his purpose, and he showed us the way out of Castle Naerytar as he promised. I believe that he is not eager to return to the Cult of the Dragon. I suspect that the cult is not kind to those who fail. Dralmorrer lost control of Castle Naerytar, and if they do not simply kill him for his failure, he will have lost all of his position and power within the cult." He looks at the gagged prisoner and asks shrewdly, "It is better to take your 'talents' elsewhere, is it not? Build a new base of power separate from the Cult of the Dragon."
On the other hand, Ixsas admits, "But it would be unwise to release him here: if Dralmorrer could betray us to the cult, I'm sure he would! We must keep him with us for a little while longer, until we are rested and ready to return here to explore this building. I do not think that he would risk following us back here. If we do not kill him, his rivals within the cult almost certainly would!"