Yes Soar would have cast locate object twice the night of Day Two, then rested, and the morning of Day Three she would have gone to find Jamna.
I’d thought we were looking for an exit for the trap door tunnel, if there is one, outside the roadhouse, so if they listened, Soar would have encouraged searching out there, even in the mere.
Nate and Nub searched around the Roadhouse, not entering into the Mere. If you want to search there, it will happen later or the next day.
You said Soar cast Locate Object twice on the night of Day Two. Which object was she searching for each time, and approximately what time did she cast the spell?
Jamna is sitting on a barrel in the stables, peeling an apple with a dagger. She looks up and smiles sweetly. What's up?
Nate intended to check in and around the roadhouse, not outside the roadhouse and certainly not in the mere. And we've just uncovered that a potential alternate opening is not nearby.
Nate and Nub, you creep into the culitsts' room. No-one appears to notice you. You close the door over, not fully, leaving it slightly ajar just as you found it.
Inside you root around and find clothes, weapons, but little of interest until you come upon a small, heavy pouch. You open it, and find gems and gold jewellery, worth easily over a thousand gold pieces.
You hear the door shut. A half-elf man is standing near the door, having closed it behind him as he entered. He looks at you both, and at the pouch in your hands.
You do know that stealing is wrong, don't you? he says in a soft voice.
She'd cast it before she went to sleep (several hours after sunset) once on the broken crate, and again on the headband Henton was wearing that she'd tracked before.
What are the cultists doing, generally? Just waiting around? Resting? Are they up to anything obvious that all of us can see, or less obviously that Skulking Nate'n'Nub can see? Also did the Skulkers get a look at Bog Luck's office/room? And what does Bog Luck wear -- any weapons? Nate's comments about distrusting Bog Luck seem to Soar to be his base-level misandry, but as she thinks about it more, she's starting to wonder if he's in on it.
When she finds Jamna, she looks around for anyone nearby enough to listen. If there is anyone, she says, "up for a walk?" and begins speaking once they're outside and away from people, and if she doesn't see anyone, or Jamna doesn't want to walk, she lowers her voice and starts the conversation right there.
"So they're not budging from here, at least, not all of them. Have you been inside the strong room? We have, and got some findings and theories. We have some awareness of what's going on, but certainly not everything. Want to compare notes? What are your plans?"
Assuming it was Nub that picked it up, he says "I'll just put it back down where I found it" and does so, rather than going closer to the half-elf. "Who are you then?" Nub asks.
[Does Nub recognise the half-elf as one of the cultists?
Also, it is just after midnight local time, so apologies if (as is likely) a fight breaks out and there is a pause from my side for 6 or 7 hours.]
Soar, when you cast [spell[Locate Object[/spell], you find no change. The dented crate is in the strong room, and Henton's bracelet is in the room where he sleeps.
The Skulkers (great name!) didn't really look inside any of the rooms, as that would be a risk and they didn't see any unoccupied. The only exception was the one room that belonged to the cultists.
The cultists have been mostly just sitting in the common room, talking, drinking and eating, and some have been out in the yard, training at weapons. They are doing what the merchants and their bodyguards are doing, and giving every impression of just being a regular group of merchants waiting for a convoy to Neverwinter.
Bog Luck has a longsword at his hip.
Jamna replies to Soar: Sure, why not. Let's take a walk. And Soar and Jamna, I assume with Jalt also, head out onto the road and away from the Roadhouse.
Once you are a hundred feet from the Roadhouse, Jamna gets into the conversation. Well, they're leaving. In pairs or threes, three groups so far, they head north along the road without telling anyone. I haven't followed them yet - don't want to get too far from the main herd. You?
Nub, you do recognise the half-elf as one of the cultists. Nate, you would recognise that he's not from the group that came from Greenest with your caravan, so he must be from another group that joined in Waterdeep. I would say it was Nate who picked up the pouch, though.
"Interesting, north up the road, and they haven't returned. We overheard, on the way here, that they're not going to Neverwinter. Do you know of any ruins or castles around here? East of the road, or in the mere?"She sighs, weighing whether to take a leap of faith with someone she barely knows. But with so many question marks, and not many red flags on Jamna's part, she presses forward.
"We got brief access to the strong room. There's a trap door in the floor there, and evidence it's being used regularly. So either a second store room or a passageway to another place. Also, Gristle Pete has complained about hissing and scraping noises at night. That's what we know. If the cult's not going to Neverwinter, and we can't assume they're staying here, they're going somewhere nearby. Their loot is likely going somewhere else, via that trap door. We just don't know where. We also don't know if Bog Luck is in on it. Anything you know about him? And what are your plans here? Tracking the people and the stuff and then what?"
Jamna thinks for a moment. Well, regardless what my plan was, my plan now is to get through that trap door. I don't want to be tripping over you and more than you want to be tripping over me, so I suggest we co-ordinate. She smiles. That means I'm coming along. No, don't try to talk me out of it. How could I resist a chance to visit the lovely Mere of Dead Men. I mean, I don't know that this thing leads into the Mere, but it doesn't exactly take a genius to work out. No, I don't know of any castles or anything in the Mere, not round here at least.
"Coordination is a good idea. We've both gestures of trust and good faith, and our goals continue to align. I will have to confirm with the others, but perhaps we can continue our alliance here. Let's head back and we can confirm with the others, and find a good time to get into the trap door. You're better at not making a sound and not being seen than I and Jalt are. Nate, and a new friend of ours, Nub, the tortle, are much better at skulking, so maybe you three can help us get into the trap door unseen." She's already walking back to the roadhouse, eager to find Nate and Nub, confirm they're okay with an alliance, and get moving on the plan. The cultists are disappearing in small groups, and possibly their treasure, likely into the mere, and we don't know anything about it, or why. Jamna's a better skulker so having her along seems like a great idea to Soar and she hopes Jalt's not too upset about her decision to speak for the group.
She'll also look closely at one of Jamna's weapons, trying to become familiar enough with it to be able to see it with a locate object spell, should Jamna head into the trap door alone and need to be followed to the other end. Jamna doesn't have to know that, though.
Yeah, Nate would've definitely been the one to pick up the pouch.
f ucking cultist thieving bastards Nate thinks to himself.
He turns around and sees the half elf man, and as quickly as he can, sizes him up in the moment, not doing anything more than that. His verbal response will be determined by the results of what he sees. (how tough does he look, what weapons does he have on him, etc.). He hears Nub saying something back to the cultist, but he is totally tuned out and doesn't make out what Nub is saying, and all he is feeling is hatred and anger when he sees the cultist face to face. Sure, it's not one he's familiar with, but it's a cultist nonetheless, and Nate knows it.
And the cultist definitely shuts the door behind him, right? Does Nate have a sense of how sound proof these walls might be, especially after that perfect investigation roll?
(like when Nub is responding to the cultist, he sounds like charlie brown's teacher to Nate. 'blah blah blahhh blah blahhh' Nate is totally zoned in on this cultists scum and he has tunnel vision/hearing)
Yes, the half-elf has closed the door behind him. The Roadhouse has reasonably thick walls and doors, but anything more than a very quiet scuffle could easily attract attention.
The half-elf looks wiry and agile. You're sure that you and Nub could beat him in a straight fight, but not that you could prevent him from running.
Depending on how Nate responds, please roll a Deception, Persuasion or Intimidation check to go with it, if appropriate.
Soar, you focus on Jamna's shortsword, specifically the grip which you can see clearly.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
OOC: I am terribly sorry if this gets hairy. I just don't see it going any other way at this point with Nate the way he is.
Nate gazes up at the half elf.
"No one's handing anything back. Until you tell me about what's beneath the trap door in the strong room. Then I'll decide if me and my friend here let your thieving ass live."
Yes Soar would have cast locate object twice the night of Day Two, then rested, and the morning of Day Three she would have gone to find Jamna.
I’d thought we were looking for an exit for the trap door tunnel, if there is one, outside the roadhouse, so if they listened, Soar would have encouraged searching out there, even in the mere.
Nate and Nub searched around the Roadhouse, not entering into the Mere. If you want to search there, it will happen later or the next day.
You said Soar cast Locate Object twice on the night of Day Two. Which object was she searching for each time, and approximately what time did she cast the spell?
Jamna is sitting on a barrel in the stables, peeling an apple with a dagger. She looks up and smiles sweetly. What's up?
Nate would indeed try and check out one of the cultists rooms. "Pssst, Nub, let's go!"
Casting pass without trace again.
Stealth: 15
Nate intended to check in and around the roadhouse, not outside the roadhouse and certainly not in the mere. And we've just uncovered that a potential alternate opening is not nearby.
Perception 23
Nate and Nub, you creep into the culitsts' room. No-one appears to notice you. You close the door over, not fully, leaving it slightly ajar just as you found it.
Inside you root around and find clothes, weapons, but little of interest until you come upon a small, heavy pouch. You open it, and find gems and gold jewellery, worth easily over a thousand gold pieces.
You hear the door shut. A half-elf man is standing near the door, having closed it behind him as he entered. He looks at you both, and at the pouch in your hands.
You do know that stealing is wrong, don't you? he says in a soft voice.
Nub naively says "Yes we know it is wrong, but don't worry, we weren't stealing."
She'd cast it before she went to sleep (several hours after sunset) once on the broken crate, and again on the headband Henton was wearing that she'd tracked before.
What are the cultists doing, generally? Just waiting around? Resting? Are they up to anything obvious that all of us can see, or less obviously that Skulking Nate'n'Nub can see? Also did the Skulkers get a look at Bog Luck's office/room? And what does Bog Luck wear -- any weapons? Nate's comments about distrusting Bog Luck seem to Soar to be his base-level misandry, but as she thinks about it more, she's starting to wonder if he's in on it.
When she finds Jamna, she looks around for anyone nearby enough to listen. If there is anyone, she says, "up for a walk?" and begins speaking once they're outside and away from people, and if she doesn't see anyone, or Jamna doesn't want to walk, she lowers her voice and starts the conversation right there.
"So they're not budging from here, at least, not all of them. Have you been inside the strong room? We have, and got some findings and theories. We have some awareness of what's going on, but certainly not everything. Want to compare notes? What are your plans?"
Well, that's good to know, he says in a friendly manner. If you'd just hand it back, I promise I won't tell anyone you were snooping.
OOC: Oh goodness, this is going to accelerate. Where and when are Jalt and Soar when they're skulking in the cultist's room??
Assuming it was Nub that picked it up, he says "I'll just put it back down where I found it" and does so, rather than going closer to the half-elf. "Who are you then?" Nub asks.
[Does Nub recognise the half-elf as one of the cultists?
Also, it is just after midnight local time, so apologies if (as is likely) a fight breaks out and there is a pause from my side for 6 or 7 hours.]
Soar, when you cast [spell[Locate Object[/spell], you find no change. The dented crate is in the strong room, and Henton's bracelet is in the room where he sleeps.
The Skulkers (great name!) didn't really look inside any of the rooms, as that would be a risk and they didn't see any unoccupied. The only exception was the one room that belonged to the cultists.
The cultists have been mostly just sitting in the common room, talking, drinking and eating, and some have been out in the yard, training at weapons. They are doing what the merchants and their bodyguards are doing, and giving every impression of just being a regular group of merchants waiting for a convoy to Neverwinter.
Bog Luck has a longsword at his hip.
Jamna replies to Soar: Sure, why not. Let's take a walk. And Soar and Jamna, I assume with Jalt also, head out onto the road and away from the Roadhouse.
Once you are a hundred feet from the Roadhouse, Jamna gets into the conversation. Well, they're leaving. In pairs or threes, three groups so far, they head north along the road without telling anyone. I haven't followed them yet - don't want to get too far from the main herd. You?
Nub, you do recognise the half-elf as one of the cultists. Nate, you would recognise that he's not from the group that came from Greenest with your caravan, so he must be from another group that joined in Waterdeep. I would say it was Nate who picked up the pouch, though.
"Interesting, north up the road, and they haven't returned. We overheard, on the way here, that they're not going to Neverwinter. Do you know of any ruins or castles around here? East of the road, or in the mere?" She sighs, weighing whether to take a leap of faith with someone she barely knows. But with so many question marks, and not many red flags on Jamna's part, she presses forward.
"We got brief access to the strong room. There's a trap door in the floor there, and evidence it's being used regularly. So either a second store room or a passageway to another place. Also, Gristle Pete has complained about hissing and scraping noises at night. That's what we know. If the cult's not going to Neverwinter, and we can't assume they're staying here, they're going somewhere nearby. Their loot is likely going somewhere else, via that trap door. We just don't know where. We also don't know if Bog Luck is in on it. Anything you know about him? And what are your plans here? Tracking the people and the stuff and then what?"
Jamna thinks for a moment. Well, regardless what my plan was, my plan now is to get through that trap door. I don't want to be tripping over you and more than you want to be tripping over me, so I suggest we co-ordinate. She smiles. That means I'm coming along. No, don't try to talk me out of it. How could I resist a chance to visit the lovely Mere of Dead Men. I mean, I don't know that this thing leads into the Mere, but it doesn't exactly take a genius to work out. No, I don't know of any castles or anything in the Mere, not round here at least.
"Coordination is a good idea. We've both gestures of trust and good faith, and our goals continue to align. I will have to confirm with the others, but perhaps we can continue our alliance here. Let's head back and we can confirm with the others, and find a good time to get into the trap door. You're better at not making a sound and not being seen than I and Jalt are. Nate, and a new friend of ours, Nub, the tortle, are much better at skulking, so maybe you three can help us get into the trap door unseen." She's already walking back to the roadhouse, eager to find Nate and Nub, confirm they're okay with an alliance, and get moving on the plan. The cultists are disappearing in small groups, and possibly their treasure, likely into the mere, and we don't know anything about it, or why. Jamna's a better skulker so having her along seems like a great idea to Soar and she hopes Jalt's not too upset about her decision to speak for the group.
She'll also look closely at one of Jamna's weapons, trying to become familiar enough with it to be able to see it with a locate object spell, should Jamna head into the trap door alone and need to be followed to the other end. Jamna doesn't have to know that, though.
Yeah, Nate would've definitely been the one to pick up the pouch.
f ucking cultist thieving bastards Nate thinks to himself.
He turns around and sees the half elf man, and as quickly as he can, sizes him up in the moment, not doing anything more than that. His verbal response will be determined by the results of what he sees. (how tough does he look, what weapons does he have on him, etc.). He hears Nub saying something back to the cultist, but he is totally tuned out and doesn't make out what Nub is saying, and all he is feeling is hatred and anger when he sees the cultist face to face. Sure, it's not one he's familiar with, but it's a cultist nonetheless, and Nate knows it.
And the cultist definitely shuts the door behind him, right? Does Nate have a sense of how sound proof these walls might be, especially after that perfect investigation roll?
(like when Nub is responding to the cultist, he sounds like charlie brown's teacher to Nate. 'blah blah blahhh blah blahhh' Nate is totally zoned in on this cultists scum and he has tunnel vision/hearing)
Yes, the half-elf has closed the door behind him. The Roadhouse has reasonably thick walls and doors, but anything more than a very quiet scuffle could easily attract attention.
The half-elf looks wiry and agile. You're sure that you and Nub could beat him in a straight fight, but not that you could prevent him from running.
Depending on how Nate responds, please roll a Deception, Persuasion or Intimidation check to go with it, if appropriate.
Soar, you focus on Jamna's shortsword, specifically the grip which you can see clearly.
OOC: I am terribly sorry if this gets hairy. I just don't see it going any other way at this point with Nate the way he is.
Nate gazes up at the half elf.
"No one's handing anything back. Until you tell me about what's beneath the trap door in the strong room. Then I'll decide if me and my friend here let your thieving ass live."
Intimidation 13
Has Soar made it back to the roadhouse with Jalt and Jamna yet?
OOC: Hooboy