Although it takes Doozey digging deep into his luck well, and despite Villonah's blundering gasps for air (exhaustion), CRAP manages to move and direct the freed villagers up the winding path with no indication that the camp below has spotted or heard them.
At the top, Villonah tired gasps become one of horror, as she witness what has happened to her companion, Gavriel, for the first time. "No..." is all that she manages to say. She knew he had been killed, but the gory visual reminder is quite the blow still.
The villagers still seem scared. They carry their scavenged weapons with difficulty but seem satisfied that they have not put them to use yet. Perhaps they won't have to at all. Freedom is close. "They have a long way ahead of them still," Sirge reminds all. "But they are in good hands in Villonah's care."
Doozey nodded in agreement but refused to look away from Villonah. After a moment, a hesitant halfling hand found her shoulder and gave it a comforting squeeze. "Them's that did this won't be getting off easy, Villie. Ya have my word. But fer now ya have yer mission, and we have ours. We'll... Me and mines will see to the body once our mission is done. But, Villie... I hate to say it, but ya need to keep going, and get these people outta here. No time to waste."He said, and after observing her reaction to his words for a moment or two, Doozey looked to the party and just nod in his readiness to return.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
Villonah is still trying to cope with Gavriel's fate when Doozey approaches. "Thank you," she says. "Thank you for freeing me and the others, for giving me a chance to complete my mission. It could have easily been me on that tree. I entrust Gavriel to you. I...." She pauses for a moment, collecting her thoughts and clearly changing her mind on what to say next. She then shares a new thought; the interrupted one remaining a mystery: "I will complete my mission." She then nods and orders the freed villagers to follow her.
There is a moment of silence as Villonah leads the villagers away. Neya breaks it once it is clear the group is on its way back home. Doozey, Utar, Neya, Biscuit, and Raist are left behind, alongside Sirge, to complete their mission. Speaking of which, Sirge feels more inclined to share details on his own quest now that the number of ears nearby has decreased considerably. "Very well," he starts. "You lot are clearly well connected, so I'll hazard a guess that I am not the first Harper you have met. In fact, if you come from Phlan, I'll venture another guess and say Olisara is among the Harpers you have met. Well, she has given me my mission and I am sure she would appreciate you helping me, and to be fair, given the circumstances, I could use your help completing it." He pauses then to get some sort of visual display of agreement. Since Utar had already voiced his willingness, Sirge feels confident enough to share more: "The Harpers have learned that the Cult of the Dragon is mustering orcs in the wilds of Thar. Olisara sent me to hunt down the agent behind these deals, but I was captured before I was able to make my move. At first, I thought Jeralla belonged to the Cult of the Dragon, but now that I had time to study her, I no longer believe that. She’s too brash, too wild. That said, I am sure someone in her employ is a member of the Cult. I need your help identifying them and capturing them... alive."
Utar runs a hand over his jaw. "Hmmmm, our interest has been from the other end, the Grey Patriots. Our understanding is that Jeralla was operating on behalf of the Cult on some level. Her assocaition with kobolds seemed like enough to confirm that for us given past experiences, however, having seen the state of some of the kobolds within her group, I suspect something else is happening. It may well be that the Cult is hoping to unite these two groups of brigands and bring them under their own banner later. Is there anyone in Jeralla's group that you suspect?"
Though a touch disappointed none of the other party members had more words of encouragement, seeing how Villonah took his advice alone filled the halfling with no small measure of relief. And while it might not have been much, Doozey returned the nod as further encouragement to Villonah, if nothing else. In the wake of the Villonah and the villagers departure Doozey looked to Galvin's body with jaw clenched and arms crossed over his chest, seeming at once angry and sad all at once over something.
Until at some point during Sirge's debriefing the halfling let out a sigh and forced his body to relax. "Probably a long shot, but we do have our friend here to still question." He says while gesturing over to bound kobold. "And while personally I'd prefer, we go someplace a bit more secure than here, every minute we stall out is another those black hearts have to settle their differences and maybe -- JUST maybe see eye to eye long enough to cause some real trouble. So, if noone's opposed, I can patch'em up enough to rouse'm."Doozey waits for any dissenting opinion or last suggestion to consider. But if all otherwise seemed in favor then he would break out his healer's kit and begin treating the kobold, though only after making sure the prisoner was gagged and blindfolded.
"Jeralla was said to have a following of only kobolds. Yet, we saw kobolds speaking with a larger figure. As far as you know, has the meeting between Jeralla's faction and the Patriots taken place, yet?" Neya asks Sirge.
"As a matter of fact..." Sirge turns to face Utar, "... I do. I am not proud to admit I have been their prisoner for some time. Quite a few of her underlings have passed by the cages. I have ruled out most of them as simpletons and shortened my list of suspects to only three. That said, we could increase it back to five if you believe Jeralla herself should be considered, and perhaps this large figure as well." He points to Neya as to let her know that he is taking into account her theory. "The others in my list are Narle Shieldbiter, Sharrak, and a druid. I have not seen this Narle but I have heard his name whispered, which is enough to make me suspicious. Sharrak is a winged kobold who constantly argues with himself. As for the druid, Jeralla seems to confer with someone who only responds in animal noises."
Now looking at Neya more directly, he adds: "I have no way of knowing whether their meetings have started."
The group then listens to Doozey's idea. Sirge does not object to speeding up the tied-up kobold's recovery, but he takes a few steps back and prepares his sling as a contingency.
Utar reels off a number of immediate concerns, counting them off on his fingers as he goes.
"Ok, so we've a list of suspects, three of whom none of us have seen. A potential brigand team up that might spell doom for Phlan's immediate future. We've a kobold sorceror warped by twisted magics to interrogate while we stand outside the meeting place of the two brigand groups hoping that neither catch wind of us or embark on their new joint venture before we can sort this whole mess out. Am I forgetting anything, probably?"
Utar doesn't give long for anyone else to jump in, he just nods, "Thought so, well, let's try the kobold and start ticking items off the checklist."
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
While Utar seems to vent a bit, Raist employs Sebastian in retrieving his piece of artistry (with functionality) back in Phlan.
Doozey steps closer to the tied kobold and heals him for with some of his healer's kit supplies. The creature slowly comes "back online," clearly dazed and confused. It is very obviously bothered by the bright sunlight. It says nothing for now.
-> Hit Dice roll for the kobold: 8
Sirge remains ready to strike it with a sling bullet from afar.
Utar kneels close to the kobold and in draconic, very flatly and very calmy asks, "Would you like to answer our questions and live, or would you prefer to stay quiet?"
He lets the alternative hang in the air for a moment as the reality of the kobold's situation sinks in.
If only for the sake of those that might not understand Draconic, Doozey gave the abridged version and was prepared to continue doing so if need be. As he had his own questions however, he eventually speak up and say in draconic(while being mindful not to speak to loudly least his voice carry further than expected), "Fer starters, what'cha yer name? And how'ja come to be so... translucent? Was it something yer leader, that dragonborness did?" He waits a moment or so for the words to be digested and response given before asking, "Mn. I see... And what can you tell us about Sharrak and yer leader Jerella?"
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
(OOC: I think everyone in the party speaks Draconic, but Sirge appreciates the translation.)
"Scrunch," the kobold replies simply. "That is my name. My scales were a gift from the great Tiamat herself, through the power of Jeralla, the Chosen of Tiamat. Many of us receive gifts!"
After Doozey digests this information, the conversation switches to Sharrak. The kobold replies: "Sharrak... He is mean... Well, one of his heads is mean. The other is less mean."
(@Red: Can you please give me an arcana check to help determine Sebastian's success?)
Doozey lofted a brow as well. "Pleasure to make yer acquaintance, Scrunch. Doubt the feeling is mutual given the circumstances, which I fully understand, but either way, uhh.... Yea, what my friend here said. Watcha mean two'eads? Is Sharrak a big 'ol fella? Like, easily as big as Ogre at least? Or is the big'un someone else? 'cause we just spied a pretty big'un that some of yer kinsmen started gathering around."Said the halfling. "And-mnn... uhh... We heard your leader has been sacrifice'n folk to yer goddess. But do you know if or when she was planning to do so to the one's ya captured lately? Or fer that matter, when her meeting with the Grey Patriots was s'pose to be exactly?"
"He has two heads," Scrunch replies to Raist plainly. "And they are always arguing, different personalities." he then says to Neya. The kobod's tone and expression hint at this all sounding pretty normal to him. There is a tinge of surprise in his responses, as if he finds it strange that they sound weird to you. When Doozey furthers the questions, the kobold continues: "No, no. He is a kobold; only with two wings and two heads."
The other questions that follow draw a blank from Scrunch. "I know little. The Chosen makes all the decisions."
Sirge's stealth - 26
(@Ori: Inspiration used on Biscuit: confirmed!)
Although it takes Doozey digging deep into his luck well, and despite Villonah's blundering gasps for air (exhaustion), CRAP manages to move and direct the freed villagers up the winding path with no indication that the camp below has spotted or heard them.
At the top, Villonah tired gasps become one of horror, as she witness what has happened to her companion, Gavriel, for the first time. "No..." is all that she manages to say. She knew he had been killed, but the gory visual reminder is quite the blow still.
The villagers still seem scared. They carry their scavenged weapons with difficulty but seem satisfied that they have not put them to use yet. Perhaps they won't have to at all. Freedom is close. "They have a long way ahead of them still," Sirge reminds all. "But they are in good hands in Villonah's care."
Doozey nodded in agreement but refused to look away from Villonah. After a moment, a hesitant halfling hand found her shoulder and gave it a comforting squeeze. "Them's that did this won't be getting off easy, Villie. Ya have my word. But fer now ya have yer mission, and we have ours. We'll... Me and mines will see to the body once our mission is done. But, Villie... I hate to say it, but ya need to keep going, and get these people outta here. No time to waste." He said, and after observing her reaction to his words for a moment or two, Doozey looked to the party and just nod in his readiness to return.
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
Neya keeps an eye on the pass as the last of the villagers crest the hill.
When they regroup, she asks, What's our next move? Back into the cave system?"
Extended Signature
Villonah is still trying to cope with Gavriel's fate when Doozey approaches. "Thank you," she says. "Thank you for freeing me and the others, for giving me a chance to complete my mission. It could have easily been me on that tree. I entrust Gavriel to you. I...." She pauses for a moment, collecting her thoughts and clearly changing her mind on what to say next. She then shares a new thought; the interrupted one remaining a mystery: "I will complete my mission." She then nods and orders the freed villagers to follow her.
There is a moment of silence as Villonah leads the villagers away. Neya breaks it once it is clear the group is on its way back home. Doozey, Utar, Neya, Biscuit, and Raist are left behind, alongside Sirge, to complete their mission. Speaking of which, Sirge feels more inclined to share details on his own quest now that the number of ears nearby has decreased considerably. "Very well," he starts. "You lot are clearly well connected, so I'll hazard a guess that I am not the first Harper you have met. In fact, if you come from Phlan, I'll venture another guess and say Olisara is among the Harpers you have met. Well, she has given me my mission and I am sure she would appreciate you helping me, and to be fair, given the circumstances, I could use your help completing it." He pauses then to get some sort of visual display of agreement. Since Utar had already voiced his willingness, Sirge feels confident enough to share more: "The Harpers have learned that the Cult of the Dragon is mustering orcs in the wilds of Thar. Olisara sent me to hunt down the agent behind these deals, but I was captured before I was able to make my move. At first, I thought Jeralla belonged to the Cult of the Dragon, but now that I had time to study her, I no longer believe that. She’s too brash, too wild. That said, I am sure someone in her employ is a member of the Cult. I need your help identifying them and capturing them... alive."
Utar runs a hand over his jaw. "Hmmmm, our interest has been from the other end, the Grey Patriots. Our understanding is that Jeralla was operating on behalf of the Cult on some level. Her assocaition with kobolds seemed like enough to confirm that for us given past experiences, however, having seen the state of some of the kobolds within her group, I suspect something else is happening. It may well be that the Cult is hoping to unite these two groups of brigands and bring them under their own banner later. Is there anyone in Jeralla's group that you suspect?"
Though a touch disappointed none of the other party members had more words of encouragement, seeing how Villonah took his advice alone filled the halfling with no small measure of relief. And while it might not have been much, Doozey returned the nod as further encouragement to Villonah, if nothing else. In the wake of the Villonah and the villagers departure Doozey looked to Galvin's body with jaw clenched and arms crossed over his chest, seeming at once angry and sad all at once over something.
Until at some point during Sirge's debriefing the halfling let out a sigh and forced his body to relax. "Probably a long shot, but we do have our friend here to still question." He says while gesturing over to bound kobold. "And while personally I'd prefer, we go someplace a bit more secure than here, every minute we stall out is another those black hearts have to settle their differences and maybe -- JUST maybe see eye to eye long enough to cause some real trouble. So, if noone's opposed, I can patch'em up enough to rouse'm." Doozey waits for any dissenting opinion or last suggestion to consider. But if all otherwise seemed in favor then he would break out his healer's kit and begin treating the kobold, though only after making sure the prisoner was gagged and blindfolded.
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
"Jeralla was said to have a following of only kobolds. Yet, we saw kobolds speaking with a larger figure. As far as you know, has the meeting between Jeralla's faction and the Patriots taken place, yet?" Neya asks Sirge.
Extended Signature
"As a matter of fact..." Sirge turns to face Utar, "... I do. I am not proud to admit I have been their prisoner for some time. Quite a few of her underlings have passed by the cages. I have ruled out most of them as simpletons and shortened my list of suspects to only three. That said, we could increase it back to five if you believe Jeralla herself should be considered, and perhaps this large figure as well." He points to Neya as to let her know that he is taking into account her theory. "The others in my list are Narle Shieldbiter, Sharrak, and a druid. I have not seen this Narle but I have heard his name whispered, which is enough to make me suspicious. Sharrak is a winged kobold who constantly argues with himself. As for the druid, Jeralla seems to confer with someone who only responds in animal noises."
Now looking at Neya more directly, he adds: "I have no way of knowing whether their meetings have started."
The group then listens to Doozey's idea. Sirge does not object to speeding up the tied-up kobold's recovery, but he takes a few steps back and prepares his sling as a contingency.
Utar reels off a number of immediate concerns, counting them off on his fingers as he goes.
"Ok, so we've a list of suspects, three of whom none of us have seen. A potential brigand team up that might spell doom for Phlan's immediate future. We've a kobold sorceror warped by twisted magics to interrogate while we stand outside the meeting place of the two brigand groups hoping that neither catch wind of us or embark on their new joint venture before we can sort this whole mess out. Am I forgetting anything, probably?"
Utar doesn't give long for anyone else to jump in, he just nods, "Thought so, well, let's try the kobold and start ticking items off the checklist."
While this is going on Raist sends Sebastian to find the merchant (for his door)
Laissez les bons temps rouler
While Utar seems to vent a bit, Raist employs Sebastian in retrieving his piece of artistry (with functionality) back in Phlan.
Doozey steps closer to the tied kobold and heals him for with some of his healer's kit supplies. The creature slowly comes "back online," clearly dazed and confused. It is very obviously bothered by the bright sunlight. It says nothing for now.
-> Hit Dice roll for the kobold: 8
Sirge remains ready to strike it with a sling bullet from afar.
Utar kneels close to the kobold and in draconic, very flatly and very calmy asks, "Would you like to answer our questions and live, or would you prefer to stay quiet?"
He lets the alternative hang in the air for a moment as the reality of the kobold's situation sinks in.
Intimidation - 21
In Draconic, the sorcerer responds: "What? No... no... don't kill me. I... I.. answer all, yes?"
Utar can see in his eyes that fear has settled in.
If only for the sake of those that might not understand Draconic, Doozey gave the abridged version and was prepared to continue doing so if need be. As he had his own questions however, he eventually speak up and say in draconic(while being mindful not to speak to loudly least his voice carry further than expected), "Fer starters, what'cha yer name? And how'ja come to be so... translucent? Was it something yer leader, that dragonborness did?" He waits a moment or so for the words to be digested and response given before asking, "Mn. I see... And what can you tell us about Sharrak and yer leader Jerella?"
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
(OOC: I think everyone in the party speaks Draconic, but Sirge appreciates the translation.)
"Scrunch," the kobold replies simply. "That is my name. My scales were a gift from the great Tiamat herself, through the power of Jeralla, the Chosen of Tiamat. Many of us receive gifts!"
After Doozey digests this information, the conversation switches to Sharrak. The kobold replies: "Sharrak... He is mean... Well, one of his heads is mean. The other is less mean."
(@Red: Can you please give me an arcana check to help determine Sebastian's success?)
Arcana: 17
"Heads? What do you mean heads"
Laissez les bons temps rouler
Neya follows up on Raist's question, in Draconic, "Is there a reason why one of Sharrak's heads so mean compared to the other one?"
Extended Signature
Doozey lofted a brow as well. "Pleasure to make yer acquaintance, Scrunch. Doubt the feeling is mutual given the circumstances, which I fully understand, but either way, uhh.... Yea, what my friend here said. Watcha mean two'eads? Is Sharrak a big 'ol fella? Like, easily as big as Ogre at least? Or is the big'un someone else? 'cause we just spied a pretty big'un that some of yer kinsmen started gathering around." Said the halfling. "And-mnn... uhh... We heard your leader has been sacrifice'n folk to yer goddess. But do you know if or when she was planning to do so to the one's ya captured lately? Or fer that matter, when her meeting with the Grey Patriots was s'pose to be exactly?"
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
"He has two heads," Scrunch replies to Raist plainly. "And they are always arguing, different personalities." he then says to Neya. The kobod's tone and expression hint at this all sounding pretty normal to him. There is a tinge of surprise in his responses, as if he finds it strange that they sound weird to you. When Doozey furthers the questions, the kobold continues: "No, no. He is a kobold; only with two wings and two heads."
The other questions that follow draw a blank from Scrunch. "I know little. The Chosen makes all the decisions."