Then that’s exactly what SpiderNate does!! He will look around the room see how many cultists might be in there see how they are armed see if there’s anything else in there worth noting and or reporting back to the party.
A few moments silence, Soar and Elspeth looking off in the middle distance toward the town, enjoying a bit of time together in quiet contemplation.
“I mean what’s the worst that could happen?” she says. “They accidentally knock over a candle and the inn burns down? SpiderNate gets stepped on and turns into himself underneath one of the cultists? Jalt goes to their room and pretends to be looking for a drunken party and they don’t buy it, and they don’t hear a word and the cover is blown wide open and there’s a fight?”
Another pause, and then a burst of laughter at the absurdity.
The cultist speaks in a low, menacing voice. Begone from here, fool. And watch your back. He smirks as he closes the door firmly. And, of course, with Nate on the other side.
They wait several seconds until Jalt has moved away, and then the conversation resumes, quietly and with intent not to be overheard. Nate can hear every word.
Who in the hells was that? the unknown man asks, his hands pulling at the ears of his wool cap.
An enemy, the cultist replies. There are perhaps two or three in the caravan. That one fought against Cyanwrath; I did not witness it myself, but one of the others recalls him. And there is another guard, also known to us.
Why are they still alive? the man asks.
The cultist shakes his head. That is our business, friend. We will move against them, when the time is right. You did not finish your report.
There is little more to speak of, the man says. No change to the plan. Three other groups are there ahead of you; one other will arrive by sea about the same time as you. There is no need for delay, and I am instructed to tell you that there must be no delay. Places with the Company have been secured. My task is complete; I have sent word of your imminent arrival. I am to travel with you the remainder of the way.
The cultist frowns. We have had little to do with the other travellers. It will be noted if we take you on.
Does it matter? the man replies.
I suppose it does not, the cultist says.
I will rest here tonight, the man says. You should return to your comrades. There will be no need to explain - let the peasants wonder and gossip. Our purpose is clear.
Agreed is the cultist's response. The second cultist has been silent the whole time.
They speak a few more minutes, nothing of any consequence, and then the two cultists move to the door to leave.
Nate is going to also move to the door as the two cultists do so, and wait for the perfect moment to crawl on the ceiling out the door, then on the ceiling down the hall, down the stairs, and then creep out of the inn. Hopefully he can find a small hole somewhere in the inn... or just out the front door via the ceiling. Then he will go back to the same spot that he wildshaped, and change back to Nate, then head back to the inn.
Does he meet Jalt on the way back to the inn? If so, he will tell him all about what just happened!!
I am happy to role play the recall of events, but hoping Nate can do it sometime the next day to the entire party. But I'm happy to do it now just with Jalt if they indeed meet outside. Just don't want to type it twice ha!
Also, Nate has a perfect excuse if his boss ends up finding him not guarding her.
Okay, so Nate does not manage to see Jalt before he returns to Edhelri for the rest of the night.
Jalt, you do see the cultists leave, and they don't notice, or don't care about you - it's not clear.
You can safely return to the caravan if you wish, and if no-one has any urgent business, we can move forward to the following morning. As the caravan is packing up, ready to move on, various merchants and other travellers, including Edhelri and Nate, return from the town. You see three new travellers have joined the caravan for the safety it offers on the road to Waterdeep - the human man that Jalt and Nate encountered the night before, and who joins one of the wagons of the cultists, as well as a human woman and a gnome woman who both join the other travellers.
You have time to talk before you need to return to you stations if you wish, and we can assume that both Nate and Jalt have recounted their adventures from the night before?
Absolutely - Nate would've told the others everything he heard and saw, and likely would've had a good laugh with Jalt seeing that we were there at the same time. Also Nate would express grave concern with the fact that the cultists are aware of our presence, and the amount of other cultist groups that they have and are on the way. Nate would stress that they know about Jalt and likely "Boar" and Elspeth too. Nate thinks actually that the cultists have no recollection of him in particular which doesn't surprise him given they likely don't remember the people they torture. bastards
"I wonder if there is a way to get another message to Leosin... to tell him about all of this."
Jalt would chuckle when he finds out that Nate was there the entire time he was trying to be a super spy but would show concern as well when its mentioned that they're on to them. Jalt will know most likely be on the lookout as much as possible while trying to stay inconspicuous. He doesnt want to bring any more attention on himself.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Hoard of the Dragon Queen - Jalt Rhogar - Dragonborn Cleric (9)
Elspeth keeps a cautious eye on the new travelers (she'd seen the man through rat-sight before, yes?) as they join the caravan, the knowledge that at least one is part of the cultists' group enough to make her wary of the others, making sure they're far away and occupied before convening with her companions. "Well, they're onto us now. Nothing we didn't suspect before, but still. We'd better watch out backs from now - do you think they suspect all of us? It'd be nice if at least one of us still had the benefit of staying hidden but that might be too much to hope for. I'm sure Carlon can find a way to send another message to Leosin - he'd want to know about the other groups of cultists on the move too. Even if we can't do much with this information right now, forewarned is forearmed. Nice work, Nate, Jalt."
“You two! Amazing work. Like the Harpers in the stories the bards tell - I am so impressed. So they know about us and they expect to either attack us physically, poison us, or perhaps malign us to the group so we have to leave. We can stay watchful, of course, but even if nothing happens, they are not going to lead us to wherever they are going now. So we have our dru-ish animal friends as possible pursuit for a while. That’s really to only way I see us being able to do what we’re supposed to. Anyone had any ideas?”
She looks around once again in the brief small group they formed to talk about this, making sure no one is watching, let alone listening in.
“Also, before we have to leave to follow them, I have something rash I’d like to do. There might be a pixie imprisoned in the wagon my boss is transporting. The one that’s been visiting me every night says so. I... have to find out. Can one of you make a small incision in a canvas flap or a hole in a bottom board of that wagon, quietly? Maybe as a rat or termite or something? I can try to distract the gargoyle while you do so. I’d like to be able to just yank on something and be able to see inside and either leave it alone if it’s something benign or free it if it’s a pixie. I’d be doing this as I was leaving and quitting my job, and I would also leave some of my wages behind. Wouldn’t feel right taking all his money if I did that. It a problem if no one is comfortable but I thought I would ask.”
During your discussions, Carlon joins you, and relays a message from Ontharr Frume:
Good work. Remain with target. Avoid attracting attention. Meet contact in Waterdeep: Corner Tinker's Road and Corley Street at sundown. Look for the Black Antlers.
Carlon will remain with you for the rest of the conversation if you wish, or leave you alone if you prefer. No-one else is watching that you can see, but feel free to make a Perception check if you wish.
With that, SpiderNate is about to drop down and change back to Nate.... but not just yet.
He waits to see how Jalt reacts...
Actually sorry. Can spider Nate now walk into that room now that the door is open and look around in there?
(crawl on ceiling)
Yes, he can. Jalt is providing quite a good distraction.
Then that’s exactly what SpiderNate does!! He will look around the room see how many cultists might be in there see how they are armed see if there’s anything else in there worth noting and or reporting back to the party.
Yes me! Jalt replies with a bit of a drunkish tinge. Is this the room where the party is? All this time on the road has made Rhogar a dull boy!
Hoard of the Dragon Queen - Jalt Rhogar - Dragonborn Cleric (9)
"Ive heard it both ways."
Jalt, make a Deception check.
Deception: 6
( this is perfect )
Hoard of the Dragon Queen - Jalt Rhogar - Dragonborn Cleric (9)
"Ive heard it both ways."
A few moments silence, Soar and Elspeth looking off in the middle distance toward the town, enjoying a bit of time together in quiet contemplation.
“I mean what’s the worst that could happen?” she says. “They accidentally knock over a candle and the inn burns down? SpiderNate gets stepped on and turns into himself underneath one of the cultists? Jalt goes to their room and pretends to be looking for a drunken party and they don’t buy it, and they don’t hear a word and the cover is blown wide open and there’s a fight?”
Another pause, and then a burst of laughter at the absurdity.
The cultist speaks in a low, menacing voice. Begone from here, fool. And watch your back. He smirks as he closes the door firmly. And, of course, with Nate on the other side.
They wait several seconds until Jalt has moved away, and then the conversation resumes, quietly and with intent not to be overheard. Nate can hear every word.
Who in the hells was that? the unknown man asks, his hands pulling at the ears of his wool cap.
An enemy, the cultist replies. There are perhaps two or three in the caravan. That one fought against Cyanwrath; I did not witness it myself, but one of the others recalls him. And there is another guard, also known to us.
Why are they still alive? the man asks.
The cultist shakes his head. That is our business, friend. We will move against them, when the time is right. You did not finish your report.
There is little more to speak of, the man says. No change to the plan. Three other groups are there ahead of you; one other will arrive by sea about the same time as you. There is no need for delay, and I am instructed to tell you that there must be no delay. Places with the Company have been secured. My task is complete; I have sent word of your imminent arrival. I am to travel with you the remainder of the way.
The cultist frowns. We have had little to do with the other travellers. It will be noted if we take you on.
Does it matter? the man replies.
I suppose it does not, the cultist says.
I will rest here tonight, the man says. You should return to your comrades. There will be no need to explain - let the peasants wonder and gossip. Our purpose is clear.
Agreed is the cultist's response. The second cultist has been silent the whole time.
They speak a few more minutes, nothing of any consequence, and then the two cultists move to the door to leave.
Nate is going to also move to the door as the two cultists do so, and wait for the perfect moment to crawl on the ceiling out the door, then on the ceiling down the hall, down the stairs, and then creep out of the inn. Hopefully he can find a small hole somewhere in the inn... or just out the front door via the ceiling. Then he will go back to the same spot that he wildshaped, and change back to Nate, then head back to the inn.
Does he meet Jalt on the way back to the inn? If so, he will tell him all about what just happened!!
I am happy to role play the recall of events, but hoping Nate can do it sometime the next day to the entire party. But I'm happy to do it now just with Jalt if they indeed meet outside. Just don't want to type it twice ha!
Also, Nate has a perfect excuse if his boss ends up finding him not guarding her.
It's not clear if Nate meets Jalt on the way out, it depends on what exactly Jalt opts to do after the cultist slams the door on him.
After his not so suave attempts at espionage, Jalt would make his way back down from whence he came for fear of alerting them any further of his ruse.
Hoard of the Dragon Queen - Jalt Rhogar - Dragonborn Cleric (9)
"Ive heard it both ways."
Will Jalt remain in the common room of that inn, or return to the caravan?
Stay in the common room for a bit to make sure they leave.
Hoard of the Dragon Queen - Jalt Rhogar - Dragonborn Cleric (9)
"Ive heard it both ways."
Okay, so Nate does not manage to see Jalt before he returns to Edhelri for the rest of the night.
Jalt, you do see the cultists leave, and they don't notice, or don't care about you - it's not clear.
You can safely return to the caravan if you wish, and if no-one has any urgent business, we can move forward to the following morning. As the caravan is packing up, ready to move on, various merchants and other travellers, including Edhelri and Nate, return from the town. You see three new travellers have joined the caravan for the safety it offers on the road to Waterdeep - the human man that Jalt and Nate encountered the night before, and who joins one of the wagons of the cultists, as well as a human woman and a gnome woman who both join the other travellers.
You have time to talk before you need to return to you stations if you wish, and we can assume that both Nate and Jalt have recounted their adventures from the night before?
Absolutely - Nate would've told the others everything he heard and saw, and likely would've had a good laugh with Jalt seeing that we were there at the same time. Also Nate would express grave concern with the fact that the cultists are aware of our presence, and the amount of other cultist groups that they have and are on the way. Nate would stress that they know about Jalt and likely "Boar" and Elspeth too. Nate thinks actually that the cultists have no recollection of him in particular which doesn't surprise him given they likely don't remember the people they torture. bastards
"I wonder if there is a way to get another message to Leosin... to tell him about all of this."
Jalt would chuckle when he finds out that Nate was there the entire time he was trying to be a super spy but would show concern as well when its mentioned that they're on to them. Jalt will know most likely be on the lookout as much as possible while trying to stay inconspicuous. He doesnt want to bring any more attention on himself.
Hoard of the Dragon Queen - Jalt Rhogar - Dragonborn Cleric (9)
"Ive heard it both ways."
Elspeth keeps a cautious eye on the new travelers (she'd seen the man through rat-sight before, yes?) as they join the caravan, the knowledge that at least one is part of the cultists' group enough to make her wary of the others, making sure they're far away and occupied before convening with her companions. "Well, they're onto us now. Nothing we didn't suspect before, but still. We'd better watch out backs from now - do you think they suspect all of us? It'd be nice if at least one of us still had the benefit of staying hidden but that might be too much to hope for. I'm sure Carlon can find a way to send another message to Leosin - he'd want to know about the other groups of cultists on the move too. Even if we can't do much with this information right now, forewarned is forearmed. Nice work, Nate, Jalt."
“You two! Amazing work. Like the Harpers in the stories the bards tell - I am so impressed. So they know about us and they expect to either attack us physically, poison us, or perhaps malign us to the group so we have to leave. We can stay watchful, of course, but even if nothing happens, they are not going to lead us to wherever they are going now. So we have our dru-ish animal friends as possible pursuit for a while. That’s really to only way I see us being able to do what we’re supposed to. Anyone had any ideas?”
She looks around once again in the brief small group they formed to talk about this, making sure no one is watching, let alone listening in.
“Also, before we have to leave to follow them, I have something rash I’d like to do. There might be a pixie imprisoned in the wagon my boss is transporting. The one that’s been visiting me every night says so. I... have to find out. Can one of you make a small incision in a canvas flap or a hole in a bottom board of that wagon, quietly? Maybe as a rat or termite or something? I can try to distract the gargoyle while you do so. I’d like to be able to just yank on something and be able to see inside and either leave it alone if it’s something benign or free it if it’s a pixie. I’d be doing this as I was leaving and quitting my job, and I would also leave some of my wages behind. Wouldn’t feel right taking all his money if I did that. It a problem if no one is comfortable but I thought I would ask.”
During your discussions, Carlon joins you, and relays a message from Ontharr Frume:
Good work. Remain with target. Avoid attracting attention. Meet contact in Waterdeep: Corner Tinker's Road and Corley Street at sundown. Look for the Black Antlers.
Carlon will remain with you for the rest of the conversation if you wish, or leave you alone if you prefer. No-one else is watching that you can see, but feel free to make a Perception check if you wish.