Sparlock's Hoard of the Dragon Queen

Darvin's face falls for a moment before changing to an indignant expression. "You offend me! I'll have you know I'm an excellent liar. But it's been a very long day -- I tell you it feels like it's been months since I had a good night's sleep, and I'm off my game... plus, well, let's cut to the chase, you are clearly an unusually wise and insightful leader." He lowers his voice to a whisper and leans toward the half-dragon. "Look," he says. "I couldn't say anything in front of the governor, the poor sap; he really thinks I'm here to defend Greenest. But I couldn't care less about those peasants. My name's not even Darvin! I'm really here to join your ranks. I joined the party to search for the relic so I could make off with it and bring it here. Unfortunately the chest that that spider seemed to be guarding contained nothing of consequence, and as I said, due to the run-in with that damned tiefling, there wasn't an opportunity to search any further." He looks down. "I'm sorry to have failed you like this. It's no way to win favor with the cult, I'm sure. But if you in your wisdom would see fit to give me another opportunity, I'm sure I can prove myself to you."

OoC: Double down time... here goes...

Deception: 13

"The problem with lies and double agents is they cut both ways." (Insight: 18)

"I don't think you're actually here to join us... as good of a liar as you are. You almost had me convinced there for a second. I do believe you didn't find anything, however. So tell me... what became of the tiefling?"

(Wouldnt have actually had him roll insight if you hadn't called yourself a liar first. Lol)

(Time for the gamble...)

While still hidden behind the door, Valji mutters an arcane phrase and twists his hands with a flourish. Suddenly, the tiefling goes running out of the door of the keep, the green dragon mask worn snugly over his face! He takes several long strides out the door before turning away from the half-dragon and Darvin's position, running hard for the houses. Valji comes running after, screeching in his gnome voice as his little legs cause him to fall further behind. "Stop him! Somehow he escaped! And where did he have that mask hidden?!!?"

(Valji cast silent image , creating an illusion of the tiefling wearing the green dragon mask. Valji is running after the image screeching and yelling to cover the fact that is a silent illusion! He also has to keep it within ~60ft, so he has to chase it... He is angling the illusion to run to the houses to try and get the whole enemy party to leave Darvin and chase it...at which point he will try to lead them on a merry chase before letting it fade behind a building and getting back inside the keep!)

OoC: Hah, I think a roll is totally reasonable there, regardless of Darvin advertisting his dishonesty. I'd certainly be actively trying to look for evidence of lies in this circumstance if I were him.

Darvin decides neither to confirm nor deny the half-dragon's suspicions about his honesty for the moment. "That Asmodeus worshipping scum? We subdued him, and my naive companions insisted we bring him back to the keep alive, hence the urgency. He should be s..." At that moment, Darvin catches the sight of the running facsimile of the tiefling wearing the mask, as Valji's unmistakable voice screeches from behind it. "Gods, he's right over there! Wearing the... How could he have..."

Investigation (to see through the illusion; advantage because he knows Valji's repertoire?): (8;

12)

OoC: Ok, so Darvin totally really thinks the tiefling escaped with the mask...

Skiaceq’s heart skips a beat at the sight of the tiefling sprinting from the keep. He reaches for Darvin’s backpack and wrenches it open. There sits the mask, faintly humming with evil power. A quick doubletake later, Skiaceq realizes the ruse and feels the tension fade.

He turns to Valji and says, ”I’ll sell it,” before leaping over the wall into a swoop. “I’ll stop him!” he screeches at the top of his lungs, making a grand show of gaining on the illusion far slower than he is able.

[Helping Valji with whatever check is needed to sell the ruse.]

I was going to say a Intelligence[Deception] check at advantage, but considering all the help that he's getting, I don't think that'll be necessary

The half dragon looks in confusion at the distant figure and then to Darvin. Seeing the truth of the matter in Darvins expression, he gestures to the Kobolds and runs after the figure,  leaving Darvin in his wake.

What now? You can get to the houses easily enough. If theres something particular you want to look for/do to sell it, roll Survival, Perception, Investigation, or something you think would be more applicable. 

OoC: Did the kobolds that had been surrounding Darvin go with him?

They all ran.

(YESS!!!)  Investigation: 23

As Valji runs after his own illusion, he sees the enemy party all start pursuing it, too. Valji quickly scans the houses and shops, looking for the most convincing path to move the illusion that would make the half-dragon and kobolds waster their time searching while he and Darvin could escape back into the keep. In one alley, he sees what he is looking for - an open door to one building, a broken window in another, and two other twists or turns further down that an escaping tiefling could choose from. Valji concentrates and directs the illusion there and out of sight from the other group, then turns and runs back to the keep, motioning to Darvin to come with him!

(Once he thinks the illusion is out of the line of sight from the half-dragon and kobolds and in the right position, Valji lets the illusion dissipate so they will start searching the many possible places it could have gone.)

The guards follow shortly behind Valji. Making the illusion bolt into the alley where he can disappear unseen, how will Valji extricate himself? Did Darvin follow towards the buildings? 

As the half-dragon and the kobolds encircling him disperse to chase the tiefling, Darvin sees his opportunity and darts away in the opposite direction, looking around frantically for his friends. He spots Valji out of the corner of his eye waving him toward the keep, and runs toward the gnome so the two of them can approach the keep together. Although the wizard displays a sense of urgency on his face, there is also an element of playful satisfaction -- not unusual for the whimsical gnome, but considering the situation with the tiefling, unexpected nonetheless.

(just for fun let's see how well Darvin can read Valji before he asks him about the tiefling) Insight: 12

Darvin cocks his head for a moment and puts two and two together. "That was you!" he says. "Well done, and thank you my friend. Let's get back!"

Skiaceq keeps up his pursuit ahead of the racing kobolds. When the illusion ducks into a home, he dives around the side and swoops behind another building out of sight. After the stomping has fully passed, he backtracks and flies low toward Valji and Darvin.

”Great work, you two.” He gives them both a sincere look of gratitude. “You may have just saved my father’s life.”

[Skiaceq will travel back with them on-foot.]

Valji kept the illusion just inside the edge of his control, satisfied that the half-dragon and kobolds were lured away from Darvin with it. He never got close to that group, letting them come from the side and getting ahead of him a bit. When he saw that good place to let the illusion dissipate, he turned and ran back to the keep with Darvin and eventually Skiaceq!

Can I get a stealth check w/ advantage from Valji?

Stealth: 14

With his allies helping to sell the illusion, and his opponents distracted, Valji quietly (and quickly!) disengages and sneaks back towards the keep, motioning for Darvin and Ski to follow him.

Darvin follows, as previously described.

"Hey guys, I think the cult is gone!" Darvin whispers. "There's no sign of them anywhere! Whaddya say we head back to the keep and throw a humungous party?"