It's hard work, not because the fungus offers any resistance... although perhaps it does, in its way. Another hour, and you're able to clear a path that will allow the caravan to progress. In the beginning, a few folk come to attempt to assist you, but none lasts longer than half a minute. You're not sure if they're feeling the agonised screams more, or perhaps some other effect that you've managed to resist.
Soar, you feel a tremendous sense of nausea when you even think about eating the mushrooms. Your mind tells you that they're unlikely to be harmful, and might even be nutritious, but your body has an instinctive reaction against the idea. You manage to hold on to your breakfast. Just.
As the caravan gets moving in complete silence, Leda walks up and stares at Boar. How... how did you manage that? How did you resist it? A few others are clustering around you; Eldkin and Losvius, a few of the travellers. They stare at the three of you.
Soar banished the thought of maybe eating the mushrooms from her head with a shudder. She has been quiet amid the work and the screaming. As the caravan moves along, she notices the group’s attention quickly and becomes self-conscious at the attention. She looks at Jalt and Elspeth and squints her eyes in confusion, and grabs her ears. She shakes her head to try to clear it and when when Leda speaks, Boar says quite loudly, “what?”
She is indeed going to try to act like her hearing is at least compromised. Mainly to try to make herself not seem special, but also with a possible ulterior motive of being able to find herself close to the cultists and able to eavesdrop without them thinking she can hear them. Probably won’t work but that’s what Soar comes up with in a moment of panic. Returning to her employer she presents herself as still able to keep watch and would, if prompted as to the foolishness of putting herself out there, point out she did help free the caravan, but she will keep up the “hard of hearing” charade for at least a little bit.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
When Elspeth returns, the first thing she does is to try and find something to lean against as she plops down on the floor, not caring about the dirt and grime. "I'm not sure I managed to resist whatever those damned mushrooms were doing, that was worse than a full day's work back at the farm." She mutters weakly, tired both from the constant screaming and the physical exertion. "If someone can pass me my waterskin I'd be deeply indebted to them for the rest of my life."
Elspeth is feeling a little exhausted, but is definitely playing it up once she realized the caravan leaders weren't expecting the three of the to clear the path successfully.
Make a Deception check or Performance check to pretend to be deaf and sustain that for some time.
Someone hurries to pass a clearly exhausted Elspeth a waterskin, and the same for the rest of you as Elspeth's deception has persuaded the onlooker that you have all worked yourselves close to dropping.
The caravan is underway again. Attention remains on Elspeth, Jalt and Boar who seem to be gathering a lot of respect and popularity; travellers and other guards seem to want to spend time with you, and Zelina is even more attentive to Jalt than before, walking with him for most of the rest of the day, though she doesn't press him with questions.
Eventually, the caravan stops for the night. You all complete a long rest. You pass another two nights on the road; the weather has cleared up a great deal, and though it's too late in the year for warm weather, the air feels cool and refreshing, and the sky is clear.
On the eighth day since the last rest day, and twenty-eight days out from Baldur's Gate, the caravan is rounding a bend in the road and passing through a wooded area.
Elspeth, you see ahead of you, in the middle of the road, a human head.
Nate watches on as Soar, Elspeth and Jalt cut through the fungus. He's glad to see that none of them look sick in any way after that, and he knows damn well that Soar isn't deaf and Elspeth would not be that tired... he tips his hat at them acknowledging their latest deception and then will return back to his employer and ask her how she is doing now that we are through the mushrooms.
Nate will continue is guarding duties as the caravan travels onward. He can't believe they've been at this for almost a month. He is kind of day dreaming, looking off into the wilderness as the caravan rounds the bend and begins to pass through a wooded area.....
(Nate's wagon is still near the back of the caravan, yes?)
Soar will seek out Nate, who appears to be the caravan healer, once or twice on the journey, ostensibly to try to get her hearing to improve. When they're talking, and he's "examining" her ears away from the rest of the group, she'll ask him what he's been seeing, if he or Elspeth have been able to shift into something small to infiltrate the cultists' wagon or listen to their conversations, and she will tell him about her creepy employer, and warn him or Elspeth from trying to infiltrate Lasfelro's wagon. "That gargoyle sees a lot more than I think he sees. You might get caught and that would be bad. I want to know what I'm helping him transport, but it's not worth compromising our mission. Also, I'd ordinarily be of the mind to try to turn the caravan against the cultists for being lazy with defense, but we want them to show us their plans and we don't want to disrupt them too much, and causing a fight seems like it would do that. So I'm just trying to listen in. I'm going to try to use the 'deafness' to get close to them and not react when they've called out or talked to me so they might let something slip while I'm in actual earshot." She lets a tiny grin peek out from her boarish affect. "I hate your accent, by the way. But I think it's working, Nate the County Healer."
(Nate's wagon is nearer to the back, yes. He and Soar certainly can't see the head up the road yet.)
Boar doesn't need to seek out the healer on her own. So convincing is her performance of being unable to hear, people kindly hold her hand (as though she were also unable to see) and lead her gently to Nate for healing. Leda goes with you, obviously believing your story, though she doesn't seem too troubled: It'll pass. I SAID IT'LL PASS.
It's up to you, Nate, whether you attempt to heal Boar or not, or at least pretend to for onlookers.
While quietly glad that they deception passed muster, Elspeth isn't particularly thrilled by the extra attention garnered by the three of them. "It's harder to stay discreet like this."She'll whisper in Jalt's ear casually when she passes him. She's fully for wildshaping into something small again but is worried that people are more likely to notice if they're gone for
Elspeth is pretty shocked by seeing what is apparently a head casually lying on the road and will call out immediately for the caravan to stop. "I don't know what's going on ahead but it doesn't look safe. Permission to go and check it out?"
Once Elspeth mentions something is up ahead, his reaction is to place his hand on the handle of his warpick. I'll go along with you Jalt says Better to be safe than sorry.
Eldkin, once you explain about the head which she cannot really see yet, gives approval and speaks to Losvius. The word is sent, and the caravan comes slowly and inelegantly to a halt, with much muttering about what the reason for the delay might be. Nate and Soar, the caravan halts, with little explanation, and a message comes from Eldkin asking you to head to the front.
Take Cove and Harriman with you, but don't get into a fight unless you have to. She eyes the head from afar; Not sure what threat a head poses, but there could be all sorts in these trees.
I'm in too, Zelina says. Never seen anything like it.
Elspeth and Jalt approach, with Zelina, Cove and Harriman following about ten feet behind and watching the trees around you.
You see the head of a human man, but as you get close, within ten feet, it becomes clear that this is not just a head; it's a man who has been buried in the ground, in the middle of the road, up to his head. He is unconscious, and he has the word 'Oathbreaker' painted in red across his forehead.
Nate will happily "check" Soar's ears, and then will wait for an opportune moment and then speak to Soar in his normal self "Honestly Soar I haven't seen much of anything. These cultists seem to be very secluded and to themselves. Whatever they are planning they are doing a good job of keeping their business to themselves. And you saw them during the fights.... didn't try and help or anything. I wonder if the others have had any better luck? I also haven't been able to morph into any tiny creatures as of yet... I haven't really had the chance given my boss is always on me like a hawk. Oh well, at least she's nice."
"Anyhow, I think your deaf trick may be our only hope. Also, I agree about the accent, every time I have to do it I almost puke..."
then sees someone coming and gets back into character: "Ahem! Well well well lemme take a lil' look-see here at them there ears of yours. So - So... I mean Boar, Boar is it, am I right?"
Nate will once again try to look like he knows what he is doing and will check Soar's ears. If this is a good roll, he will make up some ailment "Swollen EarDrumitis" and explain to her and whoever is watching that this is caused by extreme noise, or perceived noise, and she won't be able to hear properly for at least a few days minimum.
Elspeth accepts the extra guards without question, although she doesn't think they'll be needed. "We'll be careful."She tells Eldkin as she leaves.
While quietly relieved it wasn't some sort of ambush again, Elspeth is concerned that someone thought fit to leave a man half-buried in the middle of the road and frankly, more than a little confused why someone would do such a thing. "Looks like this isn't a risk to us, but does anyone have a shovel? Some water, maybe."She eventually decides, in as even a voice she can manage.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
(Would Boar have had any luck with the playing-deaf scheme and the cultists in those couple days?)
When the caravan stops, she looks at Lasfelro and shrugs. If he doesn't tell her no or shake his head, she'll walk forward, snapping a couple divine senses along the way. When she sees the head, she immediately starts looking into the trees for evidence of onlookers or traps.
No, Boar had no luck in casually eavesdropping on the cultists. Next time the caravan is moving, if she wants to approach the cultists, we can narrate that in more detail and make the attempt.
Soar, you see nothing with your Perception that alarms you - no sign of an ambush or observer from the trees.
Jalt you see no evidence of a booby trap. Just the footprints, most likely belong to whoever did this to the man.
Elspeth, Harriman nods and starts back towards the caravan. I'll get a shovel and some help maybe. But Cove says Wait! and she stops. I mean... don't you think maybe they were left here for a good reason. Who pisses someone off so much they get left in the road with 'Oathbreaker' written on their face. What do you think he did?
Both the guards look to Elspeth and Jalt for guidance, and at this point Nate and Boar arrive.
No man should ever have to suffer this type of indignity. Jalt says as kneels down before the man. Who are we to judge? He looks around and then to Elspeth. If we revive him, I can get the truth out of him. Then we can make our decision on how to go forward.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Hoard of the Dragon Queen - Jalt Rhogar - Dragonborn Cleric (9)
Boar approaches wordlessly, narrowing her eyes. She kneels in front of him, touches his forehead to see what was used to paint the word, and moves his head around to see if she notices any items or anything odd in the dirt immediately around him. As she does so, she uses lay on hands to heal him for 5 hp. Her movements look clumsy but she's really being very gentle with him.
She says in his face, "HELLO. HOW DID YOU GET HERE?"
(Wow, you're such a robust bunch!)
It's hard work, not because the fungus offers any resistance... although perhaps it does, in its way. Another hour, and you're able to clear a path that will allow the caravan to progress. In the beginning, a few folk come to attempt to assist you, but none lasts longer than half a minute. You're not sure if they're feeling the agonised screams more, or perhaps some other effect that you've managed to resist.
Soar, you feel a tremendous sense of nausea when you even think about eating the mushrooms. Your mind tells you that they're unlikely to be harmful, and might even be nutritious, but your body has an instinctive reaction against the idea. You manage to hold on to your breakfast. Just.
As the caravan gets moving in complete silence, Leda walks up and stares at Boar. How... how did you manage that? How did you resist it? A few others are clustering around you; Eldkin and Losvius, a few of the travellers. They stare at the three of you.
Soar banished the thought of maybe eating the mushrooms from her head with a shudder. She has been quiet amid the work and the screaming. As the caravan moves along, she notices the group’s attention quickly and becomes self-conscious at the attention. She looks at Jalt and Elspeth and squints her eyes in confusion, and grabs her ears. She shakes her head to try to clear it and when when Leda speaks, Boar says quite loudly, “what?”
She is indeed going to try to act like her hearing is at least compromised. Mainly to try to make herself not seem special, but also with a possible ulterior motive of being able to find herself close to the cultists and able to eavesdrop without them thinking she can hear them. Probably won’t work but that’s what Soar comes up with in a moment of panic. Returning to her employer she presents herself as still able to keep watch and would, if prompted as to the foolishness of putting herself out there, point out she did help free the caravan, but she will keep up the “hard of hearing” charade for at least a little bit.
When Elspeth returns, the first thing she does is to try and find something to lean against as she plops down on the floor, not caring about the dirt and grime. "I'm not sure I managed to resist whatever those damned mushrooms were doing, that was worse than a full day's work back at the farm." She mutters weakly, tired both from the constant screaming and the physical exertion. "If someone can pass me my waterskin I'd be deeply indebted to them for the rest of my life."
Elspeth is feeling a little exhausted, but is definitely playing it up once she realized the caravan leaders weren't expecting the three of the to clear the path successfully.
Deception if necessary: 11
Boar, Leda says louder: ARE. YOU. ALRIGHT?
Make a Deception check or Performance check to pretend to be deaf and sustain that for some time.
Someone hurries to pass a clearly exhausted Elspeth a waterskin, and the same for the rest of you as Elspeth's deception has persuaded the onlooker that you have all worked yourselves close to dropping.
The caravan is underway again. Attention remains on Elspeth, Jalt and Boar who seem to be gathering a lot of respect and popularity; travellers and other guards seem to want to spend time with you, and Zelina is even more attentive to Jalt than before, walking with him for most of the rest of the day, though she doesn't press him with questions.
Eventually, the caravan stops for the night. You all complete a long rest. You pass another two nights on the road; the weather has cleared up a great deal, and though it's too late in the year for warm weather, the air feels cool and refreshing, and the sky is clear.
On the eighth day since the last rest day, and twenty-eight days out from Baldur's Gate, the caravan is rounding a bend in the road and passing through a wooded area.
Elspeth, you see ahead of you, in the middle of the road, a human head.
Nate watches on as Soar, Elspeth and Jalt cut through the fungus. He's glad to see that none of them look sick in any way after that, and he knows damn well that Soar isn't deaf and Elspeth would not be that tired... he tips his hat at them acknowledging their latest deception and then will return back to his employer and ask her how she is doing now that we are through the mushrooms.
Nate will continue is guarding duties as the caravan travels onward. He can't believe they've been at this for almost a month. He is kind of day dreaming, looking off into the wilderness as the caravan rounds the bend and begins to pass through a wooded area.....
(Nate's wagon is still near the back of the caravan, yes?)
Soar performance: 16
In response to the louder question from Leda, she says loudly, "I'M FINE. BOY, THOSE MUSHROOMS WERE LOUD."
Soar will seek out Nate, who appears to be the caravan healer, once or twice on the journey, ostensibly to try to get her hearing to improve. When they're talking, and he's "examining" her ears away from the rest of the group, she'll ask him what he's been seeing, if he or Elspeth have been able to shift into something small to infiltrate the cultists' wagon or listen to their conversations, and she will tell him about her creepy employer, and warn him or Elspeth from trying to infiltrate Lasfelro's wagon. "That gargoyle sees a lot more than I think he sees. You might get caught and that would be bad. I want to know what I'm helping him transport, but it's not worth compromising our mission. Also, I'd ordinarily be of the mind to try to turn the caravan against the cultists for being lazy with defense, but we want them to show us their plans and we don't want to disrupt them too much, and causing a fight seems like it would do that. So I'm just trying to listen in. I'm going to try to use the 'deafness' to get close to them and not react when they've called out or talked to me so they might let something slip while I'm in actual earshot." She lets a tiny grin peek out from her boarish affect. "I hate your accent, by the way. But I think it's working, Nate the County Healer."
(Nate's wagon is nearer to the back, yes. He and Soar certainly can't see the head up the road yet.)
Boar doesn't need to seek out the healer on her own. So convincing is her performance of being unable to hear, people kindly hold her hand (as though she were also unable to see) and lead her gently to Nate for healing. Leda goes with you, obviously believing your story, though she doesn't seem too troubled: It'll pass. I SAID IT'LL PASS.
It's up to you, Nate, whether you attempt to heal Boar or not, or at least pretend to for onlookers.
While quietly glad that they deception passed muster, Elspeth isn't particularly thrilled by the extra attention garnered by the three of them. "It's harder to stay discreet like this." She'll whisper in Jalt's ear casually when she passes him. She's fully for wildshaping into something small again but is worried that people are more likely to notice if they're gone for
Elspeth is pretty shocked by seeing what is apparently a head casually lying on the road and will call out immediately for the caravan to stop. "I don't know what's going on ahead but it doesn't look safe. Permission to go and check it out?"
Once Elspeth mentions something is up ahead, his reaction is to place his hand on the handle of his warpick. I'll go along with you Jalt says Better to be safe than sorry.
Hoard of the Dragon Queen - Jalt Rhogar - Dragonborn Cleric (9)
"Ive heard it both ways."
Eldkin, once you explain about the head which she cannot really see yet, gives approval and speaks to Losvius. The word is sent, and the caravan comes slowly and inelegantly to a halt, with much muttering about what the reason for the delay might be. Nate and Soar, the caravan halts, with little explanation, and a message comes from Eldkin asking you to head to the front.
Take Cove and Harriman with you, but don't get into a fight unless you have to. She eyes the head from afar; Not sure what threat a head poses, but there could be all sorts in these trees.
I'm in too, Zelina says. Never seen anything like it.
Elspeth and Jalt approach, with Zelina, Cove and Harriman following about ten feet behind and watching the trees around you.
You see the head of a human man, but as you get close, within ten feet, it becomes clear that this is not just a head; it's a man who has been buried in the ground, in the middle of the road, up to his head. He is unconscious, and he has the word 'Oathbreaker' painted in red across his forehead.
Nate will happily "check" Soar's ears, and then will wait for an opportune moment and then speak to Soar in his normal self "Honestly Soar I haven't seen much of anything. These cultists seem to be very secluded and to themselves. Whatever they are planning they are doing a good job of keeping their business to themselves. And you saw them during the fights.... didn't try and help or anything. I wonder if the others have had any better luck? I also haven't been able to morph into any tiny creatures as of yet... I haven't really had the chance given my boss is always on me like a hawk. Oh well, at least she's nice."
"Anyhow, I think your deaf trick may be our only hope. Also, I agree about the accent, every time I have to do it I almost puke..."
then sees someone coming and gets back into character: "Ahem! Well well well lemme take a lil' look-see here at them there ears of yours. So - So... I mean Boar, Boar is it, am I right?"
Nate will once again try to look like he knows what he is doing and will check Soar's ears. If this is a good roll, he will make up some ailment "Swollen EarDrumitis" and explain to her and whoever is watching that this is caused by extreme noise, or perceived noise, and she won't be able to hear properly for at least a few days minimum.
Performance 15
After all of this, Nate will accompany Boar to the front of the caravan to see what's going on.....
(sorry, perhaps that should've been a Deception roll - but either way I will take it!!)
Nate, you performance is convincing - you think.
Elspeth and Jalt will have some time with the head before Boar and Nate arrive...
Elspeth accepts the extra guards without question, although she doesn't think they'll be needed. "We'll be careful." She tells Eldkin as she leaves.
While quietly relieved it wasn't some sort of ambush again, Elspeth is concerned that someone thought fit to leave a man half-buried in the middle of the road and frankly, more than a little confused why someone would do such a thing. "Looks like this isn't a risk to us, but does anyone have a shovel? Some water, maybe." She eventually decides, in as even a voice she can manage.
Jalt will move closer to the figure buried there and would like to investigate to see if his body or the area has been booby trapped
Investigation: 22
Hoard of the Dragon Queen - Jalt Rhogar - Dragonborn Cleric (9)
"Ive heard it both ways."
(Would Boar have had any luck with the playing-deaf scheme and the cultists in those couple days?)
When the caravan stops, she looks at Lasfelro and shrugs. If he doesn't tell her no or shake his head, she'll walk forward, snapping a couple divine senses along the way. When she sees the head, she immediately starts looking into the trees for evidence of onlookers or traps.
Vanilla d20s:
18 3 1
No, Boar had no luck in casually eavesdropping on the cultists. Next time the caravan is moving, if she wants to approach the cultists, we can narrate that in more detail and make the attempt.
Soar, you see nothing with your Perception that alarms you - no sign of an ambush or observer from the trees.
Jalt you see no evidence of a booby trap. Just the footprints, most likely belong to whoever did this to the man.
Elspeth, Harriman nods and starts back towards the caravan. I'll get a shovel and some help maybe. But Cove says Wait! and she stops. I mean... don't you think maybe they were left here for a good reason. Who pisses someone off so much they get left in the road with 'Oathbreaker' written on their face. What do you think he did?
Both the guards look to Elspeth and Jalt for guidance, and at this point Nate and Boar arrive.
No man should ever have to suffer this type of indignity. Jalt says as kneels down before the man. Who are we to judge? He looks around and then to Elspeth. If we revive him, I can get the truth out of him. Then we can make our decision on how to go forward.
Hoard of the Dragon Queen - Jalt Rhogar - Dragonborn Cleric (9)
"Ive heard it both ways."
Boar approaches wordlessly, narrowing her eyes. She kneels in front of him, touches his forehead to see what was used to paint the word, and moves his head around to see if she notices any items or anything odd in the dirt immediately around him. As she does so, she uses lay on hands to heal him for 5 hp. Her movements look clumsy but she's really being very gentle with him.
She says in his face, "HELLO. HOW DID YOU GET HERE?"