Sword Coast Rambling

Syna looks with disgust at the cultist, "Tie him tight and throw him in with the spider.  He may eventually escape.  The let us move on before we are discovered."

"Hmm. Gladly." Arkhan lifts him up. And carries next to the dead spider. Making sure to place him in the webs. "You shouldn't have been mixed up with them folk, and now you have a second chance at life. Be grateful. There is a blade outside, when you leave here its yours. If I see you doing anything unlawful again, I will not hesitate on taking back the life I have given you in this moment right here, do you understand?"

Serak: As Arkhan hauls the cultist into the building, Serak quickly searches both rooms, cutting his way through the webs with his dagger. As he searches he asks the cultist, "What do you know of this dragon? What color is it? How large is it? When and where does it sleep? Speak!"

Perception: 25

Landing with a soft thud in amongst the webbing, the cultist looks up in awe at the Dragonborn, “Thankyou... a million Thankyous for your mercy. You metallic dragons aren’t so bad... I understand fully. By Tiamat I will not cross your path again, I swear it.” 

As Arkhan leaves, Serak finishes his search of the ruined building.

Serak:

"You best not praise Tiamat in my presence again, boy." Arkhan snarls

Serak: Reluctantly searching the corpse, Serak says a silent prayer for the slain adventurer as he collects the loot. He then proceeds to gag the Cultist before leaving the building.

Turning to Arkhan, the bard says, "A pleasure to meet you, sir. I am Serak, and these are Beetle, Brots, Syna, Zyltris and of course Jelenneth. We're on a quest to rescue a friend, if you'd like to join us? What brings you here and how did you come to be captured by these Cultists? 

OOC: I’m out today and most of tomorrow for my sisters wedding, should be back to normal again Monday

“Pleased to meet you all. My name is Arkhan Voldez. I’m on a bit of a shore leave and its... open ended. I thought I’d take a bit of a break from the sea to see what the land has to offer and to hone some of my skills. You learn a lot of things out there on the water but if ye ain’t got someone on the crew who knows what yer fixin to learn you ain’t gonna learn it. Either way, I was making my way around. I’m not even sure where I was when these group of wackos blind sided me. I was in my full armor so I thought it was pretty gutsy of them. But if I had known they’d be such big pushovers I wouldn’t have needed the help.”

Arkhan realizes he keeps getting off track, it was nice to have someone to speak to again. 

“So you say you’re rescuing a friend? I hear that kind of work pays nice. Unless of course you truly mean... friend? Either way you all look mighty capable so I’ll tell ya what. I’ll help with your friend. But before we do that, I’m going to need to go back to where these fellas came from to get my gear.”

Serak: As Arkhan recounts his tale, Serak begins searching the Cultists, including the bound one. Next, he collects as many salvageable masks and robes as possible before dragging the corpses into the spider nest. Finally, he attempts to hide any signs of the conflict.

Deception: 25

Perception: 8

Turning back to Arkhan, the bard says, "Welcome aboard our motley crew, my friend! I believe we shall fine your belongings the same place Dayereth is being held. The Cultist said there are only four more guarding him. Shall we liberate our friend and your belongings? We can approach under cover of darkness and use their camp for the night."

Serak pulls a robe over his head and dons a mask, disguising himself in hopes of surprising the guards.

Disguise: 23

57,14,97,33,8,15,15,14,

Searching the first of the three cultists corpses, Serak is disappointed to find nothing of any real interest. Other than masks, cloaks, armour and scimitars, the men only seem to have held a small quantity of change between them. In total the bard finds 3 gold pieces, 8 silver and 2 copper coins. Piling the bodies into a dark corner in the ruined house, he turns his attention to the cult leader.

Unlike his lesser cultists, searching Favric is much more promising. Rummaging in the cultists deep cloak pocket, Serak finds a small wooden lock-box containing three beautiful white cut diamonds arranged neatly in its cushioned interior. Around his neck, Favric wears a delicate chain, on which hangs a black coloured glass pendant carved into the shape of a dragon. With a hard tug, Serak pulls the necklace free and holding the glass to the firelight sees a liquid splashing freely inside. A crease around the bottom of the dragons neck seemingly forms a stopper for the elegantly made bottle.

Satisfied that the cultists hold no more secrets, Serak dons Favrics long black cloak and mask, his disguise perfect in the dim light. As he passes the remaining cloaks to the others, Lucas squawks loudly on Brots' shoulder. "Lucas tells me that the path beyond here circles around a dense wood. To the north is the old town square. There's a huge stone man, a couple of ruined buildings and some sort of fort? South, the buildings are more dilapidated. There's a small farmhouse further down before the road bends northwards again to the square. He doesn't see any camp of firelight or movement of any sort..."

OOC: 3gp, 8sp and 2cp (that makes 6sp 4cp for the rest of you minus Brots and Zyltris share). There's also the 3 diamonds and the dragon glass as well as any armour or weapons that you'd like. 

As there's only 3 cloaks and masks left you'll need to share these out to the others. 

Serak: Dividing the loot from the slain adventurer and Cultists, Serak hands each party member 5gp 3cp total. He also hands Arkhan the Potion of Healing he discovered, saying, "Take this, my new friend! You may have need of it!"

Opening the strange dragon vile, Serak hopes it isn't some kind of bodily fluid as he takes a small taste of the contents.

Finally, the bard says, "Night has fallen...  Shall we stay together and allow Brots' Hawk to lead us safely to the farm house? Surely, Dayereth is there."

"If Beetle, Zyltris and Arkhan wear robes and masks also, we can pretend we caught Brots, Jelenneth and Syna trying to rescue Dayereth. We walk right up to them and then jump them! Oldest trick in the book!" 

As Serak opens the vial a small puff of black smoke floats into the air. Pouring a small drip of the clear liquid into his mouth, the bard is met with the undeniable taste of perfume - flowery, sweet and terribly bitter. Forcing his lips together, he shuts his eyes and forces himself to swallow. After a few moments the sourness passes. Wiping away the involuntary tears from his cheeks, Serak opens his eyes once more and feels the ground once more under his feet. The look of bewilderment on his colleagues faces confirm his suspicions - A Potion of Flying. With a giggle, Brots launches his hawk into the air, "Perhaps you'd like to join Lucas? I'm sure he'd like the company!" 

Serak:  Shaking his head with a smile, Serak hangs the vile around his neck, finishing his disguise. He hands out the bloody and burned robes to Arkhan, Beetle and Zyltris, saying, "Dress up time, gentlemen! No complaining! Just let me do all the talking and be ready to slaughter these evil dragon worshiping scum! No offense, Arkhan!"

Turning to Brots sheepishly, he asks, "Would you ask Lucas to lead us to the farmhouse?"

OOC: That was a lot. Good place to stop and let everyone catch up before we potentially start combat.

“It would be a pleasure,” Brots says cheerfully before whistling three distinct, sharp notes. Above, the hawk responds with a shriek of his own before flying off into the night, returning after a few moments and circling over the southern road, “Looks like we go south then.” Taking the role of cult leader, Serak waits for the others to don their disguises before following the trail. 

Arkhan Disguise: 18
Beetle Disguise: 5
Zyltris Disguise: 12

Serak Disguise ReRoll: 12 (Just incase it improves)

Standing with his back to the others, Serak is pleasantly surprised when both Beetle and Arkhan approach him. Their disguises are flawless - long black cloaks and masks completely hiding their identities. Zyltris on the other hand is not so lucky. His long legs protruding from the bottom of his cloak, mask slightly bent from combat. Certainly not ideal, but perhaps just enough in the darkness.

OOC: Bit confused what you've rolled for your disguise Serak. Looks like it'd be a deception roll (+5) plus you would have advantage from your disguise kit. I'll let you keep your 23 from earlier anyway!

Reading up on it, looks like making the disguise is an intelligence check but as these are pretty simple and basically already made I'll forgo those checks.

Beetle, checking over his disguise and is satisfied it is as good as it is gonna get...."Ok I'm ready, and will be following your lead Serak." he tells the group.

OOC: I rolled Charisma + Jack of All Trades. Didn't realize it was a Intelligence check.

Serak: Striding out ahead of the group, Serak follows the Hawk's lead while on the lookout for danger. 

Perception: 20

Stealth: 24

OOC: No worries. Just wasn't sure what you'd rolled!

Carefully the party head south, following the road as it curves slightly away from the hillside. Above them, the outline of a hawk, barely visible in the moonlight, drifts silently over the trees. Serak leads the way, disappearing into the gloom as usual, a few feet ahead. To his left, a crumbled ruin, cluttered with sagging storage shelves and broken furniture. Shards of  glass and pottery lie glinting in the weeds and rubble next to rotted books and casks. Everything caked in a thick layer of ash. Further along, another building fortunate to somehow survive the tragedy that befell this town. The wide chimney set into its sagging roof and the rotted piles of firewood outside suggest that it was a smithy in its day. The village of Thundertree would have been much like Phandalin in its day, a promising village at the foot of the mountains. Now though, the streets are deathly quiet.

Serak abruptly stops. The road seems to pass through a derelict barn up ahead. It's four walls badly crumbled, leaving very little of the original structure in place. On the other side of the structure, lies the farmhouse. Though it seems as run down as the other surviving buildings, its windows are shuttered. While the others catch up, Serak surveys the area. A single tree grows in the corner of the barn which otherwise seems silent. A dense thicket of trees and bushes to the north. To the south, the approach to the house is more open, leading to a back door. 

OOC: The ruined walls are about 5-8 feet high so will give 3/4 cover. Forested area to the north is difficult terrain but will only give 1/2 cover.

As the group approaches the building Beetle will stay against the wall to the north side of the door...awaiting the other to get into positions before trying to enter the building...he will also give Serak some time to check things out before breaching in case of an ambush.  After he is in position he looks at the bard and gives a nod as to alert him that he is ready.

Serak: Serak stops and listens a moment for danger in the building. If he hears nothing, he'll peak inside. Assuming it is safe, Serak will signal Beetle that it is all clear and enter in formation.

Perception: 18

Crouched silently in the dark, Serak hears nothing inside the abandoned barn. Quietly he steps forwards, gesturing to the others to follow suit. 

Inside the crumbled walls, the ground is dried and scorched, crunching beneath the parties feet. A gentle gust of wind rustles the leaves of the trees north of them but otherwise there is no sound. With the farmhouse now no more than 20 feet away, Serak brings them to a halt, hidden by the barns perimeter wall.