Nate will listen to the cultist immediately and leave them alone. He can't have his cover blown and that was just way too close to call. he will respond to the nicer one "Oh gosh yes sir, I understand, my apologies, didn't want to bother you folk! Just doin' my rounds like I said. You folk all have a nice day now!" and Nate will tip his hat to them and get the hell out of there and back to his wagon.
Whenever the next time the party is all together and Soar is explaining what she heard, Nate would suggest "Oh this doesn't sound good at all. New order.... what the hell does that mean? Do you think we should just hold tight until the caravan gets to waterdeep and then see what they are up too? Or do you think that will be too late? I tried the whole "healer" thing to infiltrate them, but they were very direct in that they did not want me anywhere near them so I have nothing else to report. I'm sorry guys. Elspeth, any luck with the spider?"
(I'm sure Elspeth would've told everyone about her plans and this conversation likely will happen after the results of Elspeth's spider actions once we are all able to meet up again)
Elspeth is going to leave her actual attempt to listen into the cultists' caravans very late, and she'd definitely have told the others about her proposed expedition. If Soar manages to tell Elspeth what she'd heard she'd definitely keep it in mind as she tries to find a way into the cultists' caravans. As for the time, she'd pick around the dead of night, around one, two, right after she comes off her shift of guard duty. Hopefully, Jalt would have picked the shift right after her too, so there's someone to cover for her if people come looking.
Stealth:8
OOC: I'm so sorry guys for my absence! Internet decided to give up halfway through the morning and I'm struggling to fix that. If I'm not on tmr, assume Elspeth would have told everyone anything she'd discovered.
Elspeth, you manage to sneak, in spider form, into the cultists' wagons. They don't notice you. In the wagon, you see all the treasure stolen from Greenest and other cities and towns in the south, mostly gold but with some silver and jewels. It's an amazing haul, and you're just looking at one wagon - there are two more. You don't see a specific item that you recognise, certainly nothing that would directly implicate the cultists in wrongdoing.
As you are leaving, the cultists still don't notice you. You get most of the way from the cultists to the main caravan when there's a flapping of wings behind you. Make a DEX saving throw as a large black bird swoops in to find its supper.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Dex saving throw: 21
If she can manage it in time, and that no guards in the vicinity have decided to look at the bird directly. Elspeth is going to wildshape to change from a spider into the exact same bird that is swooping down on her. If no guards are looking in her direction Elspeth is fairly confident they wouldn't notice two birds where there should be one.
You manage to escape the bird. (Not sure if you can transform into a bird - I think restrictions on wildshape forms with a flying speed still apply to Circle of the Moon?)
In any case, neither the cultists nor the other travellers see you again, whether in bird or spider form.
In the coming day or two, you certainly have an opportunity, briefly and when the camp is settling down for the night, for the four of you to meet up, exchange what you've learned, and make plans.
Separately, or as a group, you can also speak to Corlan.
Boar had tried to make eyes at Corlan when she saw him, perhaps when they were both getting water. To see if he reacted at all, and after her black antlers remark, he tried to talk to her at all. If not, she'll stay apart and try to let Jalt handle him.
(Shoot, you're right, haven't wildshaped in far too long, need to review the rules.)
After her narrow escape, Elspeth decides to crawls into bed for a few hours of sleep before letting everyone know what she'd seen in the wagons. (Would she have managed to make a rough estimate of how much the treasure was worth in gp or would there have been too much to count?)
"Couldn't find anything else much in the caravans."Elspeth would mutter when they're next together. "It was pretty full though. I know we're supposed to see where it goes, not put a stop to it, but it would be so easy to snap an axle, or something, and then they wouldn't possibly be able to keep their cover."
"Hmmm... snap an axle.... I like that idea. So we can either wait until the caravan gets to Waterdeep to see where these fools are headed, or maybe try and make an "accident" happen on the way... maybe get them all riled up and then one of us could then get a better look at their belongings. What do you guys think? Also, I don't know about you guys but I can't wait to get out of this caravan! And to throw away this blasted cowboy hat."
Elspeth, you know the treasure in that one wagon is worth a fortune, maybe tens of thousands of gold pieces worth. And there are two more wagons. Total, easily ten times the value of everything else in the caravan combined. It's a rough estimate, but still...
Carlin nods, looks around to make sure there's no-one else listening, and his voice lowers to almost a whisper. Off to one side, a group of travellers burst into an exciting, though mostly friendly argument; it's unlikely you are being overheard.
Master Erlanthar wouldn't thank you for dropping his name; he has a half-smile on his lips, and speaks the name with some respect. But I am glad to see a friendly face, my friend. That spell...well, I'm guessing you're a new ally and not one of us; few would use a spell like that. Unless you really want me to blurt out the truth for all to hear. Well, happy to give the truth now. I reckon my mission was the same as yours; travelling with a caravan from Iriaebor up to Waterdeep, and one wagon laden with treasure looted from the nearby towns and guarded by some right nice folks you wouldn't look twice at.Except for the dragon-cultist part, of course. Yeah, I noticed your friends over there; he nods in the general direction of the part of the caravan where the cultists usually can be found. Not very friendly, are they?
Well, I got careless, passed some information to an agent I knew, and they saw me. Got suspicious, manufactured a story about me working for bandits, and the merchants got panicked. I... well, I hadn't made myself very popular with the other caravan folk, so no-one gave me much of a chance. You're doing pretty well, you know. People here like you, respect you. Much less chance your cultist friends will try to pull a trick. Don't get complacent though. Nasty bastards they are.
Carlin claims not to know anything about you or any other cultist groups, except that he believes there are several, presumably all bound for the same destination. He comes from Waterdeep originally, and promises to use his contacts there to help with any investigations when you all reach the city together. With no money, food or possessions, he's completely reliant on your charity to support him on the journey, though he says he can forage for food if you can provide him with some basic tools and maybe a weapon.
You come to the end of the third tenday, and it's another rest day for the animals. You've reached where the road passes near to the Trollbark Forest; though the forest itself is some miles back from the road, there are plenty of small woods at least a mile across, and you camp on the edge of the woods. Some of the younger guards talk about going hunting, but are given a stern warning by Eldkin: Do not enter this wood. Did you not hear the word 'Troll' in the name?
The morning passes quietly, and you can spend the time talking more with Carlin, or anything else you have planned. Boar, you notice Fennet scowling at you from a distance once or twice, but he does not approach.
The calm of the morning ends in the early afternoon, as one of the merchants you've had little contact with, Achreny Ulyeltin, a human with a reputation for being stinky and rude, comes up and announces that his guard Bodoric has been missing since the night before. There's a murmur of alarm, and he asks for volunteers to search the nearby woods.
Boar is just going to keep a very close eye on Fennet, and mention to her coworker that he's been trying to buy things of hers she doesn't want to sell, asking if she knows anything about him.
When the call for volunteers goes up, Boar as usual looks to Lasfelro for guidance. If he allows, she will approach Achreny and ask who saw him last, where he was, if he was sleeping, if he was on watch, and if he left his stuff behind. She'll sigh a lot and seem very bored.
He was on watch last night, third shift, Achreny replies. I saw him last, when I handed over to him. Yeah, he left his stuff. This isn't like him. He's a scrawny little twerp but he's reliable. He raises his voice to speak to everyone nearby: So why don't you folks get off your lazy asses and help me look for him? Enough questions, are you coming or are you gonna sit here like a bunch of useless trash.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Nate will also check with his employer before he also answers the call for volunteers. "Well Ma'am... looks like one of the guards gone and got himself lost in the woods.... I've gots lots of experience in the woods, I bet you a fillet of squirrel that I could track him!"
Nate will then walk over to Achreny, give a nod to Boar/Soar, and listen to their conversation. And then say "Woahhhhh boy now don't get your undergarments in a bunch, don't worry we will find him. These 'trash' as you call them are your only help so let's all work together shall we?" Nate is basically annoyed at the situation to begin with, and even more annoyed at this Achreny person and how rude he is being, so that is why he blurted out those words. Intimidation1
After that, Nate will use his Survival techniques and listen to the answers that Boar gets, and then go to the watch spot from last night and then check out the perimeter, say 100 yards each way, to see if he can see any sign of where the guard might've went, or any other clues, tracks, etc. 22
Elspeth stays quiet initially when Achreny first asks for volunteers, although she is eager to participate in the search party, she's worried that her employer would complain if she volunteered independently. She raises an eyebrow to silently ask Losvius whether they should offer to help. "Not good, losing guards. We should find out what's happened to him to say the least." She mutters, hoping that Losvius would also think that finding the guard would be beneficial.
She's displeased, to say the least, about Achreny's outburst. "You're not my employer." She says shortly.
Boar's look to Lasfelro will try to communicate: "if we don't move this along, we'll never move along the road, so might as well make this quick."
She will also look around the campsite where Bodoric was last seen, helping Nate try to spot anything that might be helpful to know, signs of a scuffle, footprints, dropped items, blood. She's still acting uninterested, laconic. "Right, just go chase after the missing guard, surely nothing tragic will happen, mishaps totally unexpected."
Nate, Edhelri frowns, but agrees. Do not go alone, though.
Achreny is wholly unimpressed with your words. Do something useful or sod off, squirt, he says to Nate. Just as well, I'd dock your pay for insolence, he says to Elspeth.
Elspeth, Losvius looks at Eldkin, they seem to come to an agreement, and he says: Yes, go and search. You have the rest of the day, do not waste it. We will not remain tomorrow. Your guards will remain, in case this is a bandit trap. He eyes Carlin, who is skulking some way off.
Boar, Lasfelro looks in bafflement at your look, and says Go if you want. He returns to his regular seat by the wagon and buries his head in a book.
Nate, as Boar is helping you, you can roll your Survival check with advantage.
For those who intend to participate in the search, tell me a little more about how you are going about it. Who's travelling with who? How are you searching? Is there a plan?
As well as the three or four of you, Leda, Jak, Beyd Sechepol, Carlin and Achreny himself will join the search.
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Boar does not even react to the outburst, only turning when others react, and will later on update her friends about what she heard, out of sight.
Nate will listen to the cultist immediately and leave them alone. He can't have his cover blown and that was just way too close to call. he will respond to the nicer one "Oh gosh yes sir, I understand, my apologies, didn't want to bother you folk! Just doin' my rounds like I said. You folk all have a nice day now!" and Nate will tip his hat to them and get the hell out of there and back to his wagon.
Whenever the next time the party is all together and Soar is explaining what she heard, Nate would suggest "Oh this doesn't sound good at all. New order.... what the hell does that mean? Do you think we should just hold tight until the caravan gets to waterdeep and then see what they are up too? Or do you think that will be too late? I tried the whole "healer" thing to infiltrate them, but they were very direct in that they did not want me anywhere near them so I have nothing else to report. I'm sorry guys. Elspeth, any luck with the spider?"
(I'm sure Elspeth would've told everyone about her plans and this conversation likely will happen after the results of Elspeth's spider actions once we are all able to meet up again)
Elspeth is going to leave her actual attempt to listen into the cultists' caravans very late, and she'd definitely have told the others about her proposed expedition. If Soar manages to tell Elspeth what she'd heard she'd definitely keep it in mind as she tries to find a way into the cultists' caravans. As for the time, she'd pick around the dead of night, around one, two, right after she comes off her shift of guard duty. Hopefully, Jalt would have picked the shift right after her too, so there's someone to cover for her if people come looking.
Stealth: 8
OOC: I'm so sorry guys for my absence! Internet decided to give up halfway through the morning and I'm struggling to fix that. If I'm not on tmr, assume Elspeth would have told everyone anything she'd discovered.
Elspeth, you manage to sneak, in spider form, into the cultists' wagons. They don't notice you. In the wagon, you see all the treasure stolen from Greenest and other cities and towns in the south, mostly gold but with some silver and jewels. It's an amazing haul, and you're just looking at one wagon - there are two more. You don't see a specific item that you recognise, certainly nothing that would directly implicate the cultists in wrongdoing.
As you are leaving, the cultists still don't notice you. You get most of the way from the cultists to the main caravan when there's a flapping of wings behind you. Make a DEX saving throw as a large black bird swoops in to find its supper.
Dex saving throw: 21
If she can manage it in time, and that no guards in the vicinity have decided to look at the bird directly. Elspeth is going to wildshape to change from a spider into the exact same bird that is swooping down on her. If no guards are looking in her direction Elspeth is fairly confident they wouldn't notice two birds where there should be one.
You manage to escape the bird. (Not sure if you can transform into a bird - I think restrictions on wildshape forms with a flying speed still apply to Circle of the Moon?)
In any case, neither the cultists nor the other travellers see you again, whether in bird or spider form.
In the coming day or two, you certainly have an opportunity, briefly and when the camp is settling down for the night, for the four of you to meet up, exchange what you've learned, and make plans.
Separately, or as a group, you can also speak to Corlan.
Boar had tried to make eyes at Corlan when she saw him, perhaps when they were both getting water. To see if he reacted at all, and after her black antlers remark, he tried to talk to her at all. If not, she'll stay apart and try to let Jalt handle him.
Corlan doesn't make any attempt to talk to any of you, but will let you take him aside to talk if any of you wish to do so.
(Shoot, you're right, haven't wildshaped in far too long, need to review the rules.)
After her narrow escape, Elspeth decides to crawls into bed for a few hours of sleep before letting everyone know what she'd seen in the wagons. (Would she have managed to make a rough estimate of how much the treasure was worth in gp or would there have been too much to count?)
"Couldn't find anything else much in the caravans." Elspeth would mutter when they're next together. "It was pretty full though. I know we're supposed to see where it goes, not put a stop to it, but it would be so easy to snap an axle, or something, and then they wouldn't possibly be able to keep their cover."
She's not going to talk to Corlan right now.
"Hmmm... snap an axle.... I like that idea. So we can either wait until the caravan gets to Waterdeep to see where these fools are headed, or maybe try and make an "accident" happen on the way... maybe get them all riled up and then one of us could then get a better look at their belongings. What do you guys think? Also, I don't know about you guys but I can't wait to get out of this caravan! And to throw away this blasted cowboy hat."
Nate will also not speak to Corlan right now.
Elspeth, you know the treasure in that one wagon is worth a fortune, maybe tens of thousands of gold pieces worth. And there are two more wagons. Total, easily ten times the value of everything else in the caravan combined. It's a rough estimate, but still...
Jalt will try to take Carlon aside and will briefly mention the name Leosin to gauge his reaction to the name.
Hoard of the Dragon Queen - Jalt Rhogar - Dragonborn Cleric (9)
"Ive heard it both ways."
Carlin nods, looks around to make sure there's no-one else listening, and his voice lowers to almost a whisper. Off to one side, a group of travellers burst into an exciting, though mostly friendly argument; it's unlikely you are being overheard.
Master Erlanthar wouldn't thank you for dropping his name; he has a half-smile on his lips, and speaks the name with some respect. But I am glad to see a friendly face, my friend. That spell...well, I'm guessing you're a new ally and not one of us; few would use a spell like that. Unless you really want me to blurt out the truth for all to hear. Well, happy to give the truth now. I reckon my mission was the same as yours; travelling with a caravan from Iriaebor up to Waterdeep, and one wagon laden with treasure looted from the nearby towns and guarded by some right nice folks you wouldn't look twice at. Except for the dragon-cultist part, of course. Yeah, I noticed your friends over there; he nods in the general direction of the part of the caravan where the cultists usually can be found. Not very friendly, are they?
Well, I got careless, passed some information to an agent I knew, and they saw me. Got suspicious, manufactured a story about me working for bandits, and the merchants got panicked. I... well, I hadn't made myself very popular with the other caravan folk, so no-one gave me much of a chance. You're doing pretty well, you know. People here like you, respect you. Much less chance your cultist friends will try to pull a trick. Don't get complacent though. Nasty bastards they are.
Carlin claims not to know anything about you or any other cultist groups, except that he believes there are several, presumably all bound for the same destination. He comes from Waterdeep originally, and promises to use his contacts there to help with any investigations when you all reach the city together. With no money, food or possessions, he's completely reliant on your charity to support him on the journey, though he says he can forage for food if you can provide him with some basic tools and maybe a weapon.
You come to the end of the third tenday, and it's another rest day for the animals. You've reached where the road passes near to the Trollbark Forest; though the forest itself is some miles back from the road, there are plenty of small woods at least a mile across, and you camp on the edge of the woods. Some of the younger guards talk about going hunting, but are given a stern warning by Eldkin: Do not enter this wood. Did you not hear the word 'Troll' in the name?
The morning passes quietly, and you can spend the time talking more with Carlin, or anything else you have planned. Boar, you notice Fennet scowling at you from a distance once or twice, but he does not approach.
The calm of the morning ends in the early afternoon, as one of the merchants you've had little contact with, Achreny Ulyeltin, a human with a reputation for being stinky and rude, comes up and announces that his guard Bodoric has been missing since the night before. There's a murmur of alarm, and he asks for volunteers to search the nearby woods.
Boar is just going to keep a very close eye on Fennet, and mention to her coworker that he's been trying to buy things of hers she doesn't want to sell, asking if she knows anything about him.
When the call for volunteers goes up, Boar as usual looks to Lasfelro for guidance. If he allows, she will approach Achreny and ask who saw him last, where he was, if he was sleeping, if he was on watch, and if he left his stuff behind. She'll sigh a lot and seem very bored.
He was on watch last night, third shift, Achreny replies. I saw him last, when I handed over to him. Yeah, he left his stuff. This isn't like him. He's a scrawny little twerp but he's reliable. He raises his voice to speak to everyone nearby: So why don't you folks get off your lazy asses and help me look for him? Enough questions, are you coming or are you gonna sit here like a bunch of useless trash.
Nate will also check with his employer before he also answers the call for volunteers. "Well Ma'am... looks like one of the guards gone and got himself lost in the woods.... I've gots lots of experience in the woods, I bet you a fillet of squirrel that I could track him!"
Nate will then walk over to Achreny, give a nod to Boar/Soar, and listen to their conversation. And then say "Woahhhhh boy now don't get your undergarments in a bunch, don't worry we will find him. These 'trash' as you call them are your only help so let's all work together shall we?" Nate is basically annoyed at the situation to begin with, and even more annoyed at this Achreny person and how rude he is being, so that is why he blurted out those words. Intimidation 1
After that, Nate will use his Survival techniques and listen to the answers that Boar gets, and then go to the watch spot from last night and then check out the perimeter, say 100 yards each way, to see if he can see any sign of where the guard might've went, or any other clues, tracks, etc. 22
Elspeth stays quiet initially when Achreny first asks for volunteers, although she is eager to participate in the search party, she's worried that her employer would complain if she volunteered independently. She raises an eyebrow to silently ask Losvius whether they should offer to help. "Not good, losing guards. We should find out what's happened to him to say the least." She mutters, hoping that Losvius would also think that finding the guard would be beneficial.
She's displeased, to say the least, about Achreny's outburst. "You're not my employer." She says shortly.
Boar's look to Lasfelro will try to communicate: "if we don't move this along, we'll never move along the road, so might as well make this quick."
She will also look around the campsite where Bodoric was last seen, helping Nate try to spot anything that might be helpful to know, signs of a scuffle, footprints, dropped items, blood. She's still acting uninterested, laconic. "Right, just go chase after the missing guard, surely nothing tragic will happen, mishaps totally unexpected."
Nate, Edhelri frowns, but agrees. Do not go alone, though.
Achreny is wholly unimpressed with your words. Do something useful or sod off, squirt, he says to Nate. Just as well, I'd dock your pay for insolence, he says to Elspeth.
Elspeth, Losvius looks at Eldkin, they seem to come to an agreement, and he says: Yes, go and search. You have the rest of the day, do not waste it. We will not remain tomorrow. Your guards will remain, in case this is a bandit trap. He eyes Carlin, who is skulking some way off.
Boar, Lasfelro looks in bafflement at your look, and says Go if you want. He returns to his regular seat by the wagon and buries his head in a book.
Nate, as Boar is helping you, you can roll your Survival check with advantage.
For those who intend to participate in the search, tell me a little more about how you are going about it. Who's travelling with who? How are you searching? Is there a plan?
As well as the three or four of you, Leda, Jak, Beyd Sechepol, Carlin and Achreny himself will join the search.