Jalt, Soar and Jamna wait in the yard. Mack the Guard is still on duty, as he was when you left. He nods at you, and as you settle in a corner to talk, he eyes you curiously. Jamna gets up and saunters over to talk to him; you can't quite make out what they're talking about, but she's keeping him entertained - and distracted - for the moment.
Nate and Nub hear into the stable, where in one corner a group of stablehands are gathered in a small circle talking and apparently playing some sort of game involving moving small stones. In the darkness of the other corner, you eventually make out the silhouette of the unnamed thief, watching you through half-elf darkvision eyes, and waiting for you to spot him. As you approach, he regards you in sullen, wary silence.
Once Nate sees the slimy half-elf, he will make a 'follow me' motion towards him to get him to follow. Then Nate will walk to the roadhouse gate and then outside, constantly looking back to make sure the thief is following. And of course hoping Nub is also with him. "If he wants his jewels, he will follow us. This is going to be on our terms. If he doesn't, then we will either head back to the tunnel entrance, or go to bed. I hope the latter." Nate says to Nub. *yawns*
Nub, you don't think it's all that strange to find the stablehands in the stables - it is where they sleep, as far as you know. You can't be sure though.
Yep. Nate would try and keep an eye on the half-elf as they walked out, although might be difficult as he's likely going first. Hoping Nub keeps his tortle eyes on him. We won't go too far outside the gate. Nate still needs to be able to see. Maybe far enough away to not draw attention from the guards, but also be able to see. Hoping the moon is bright.
Soar and Jalt, you see Nate and Nub exit the stables without any sign that the half-elf was there. They pass by, and head out through the main gate.
Nate and Nub, once through the gate, you find a spot where you can see the gate, and though the guard can see you, he's not really paying attention to you.
You wait in the night for around ten minutes. The moon and stars are still bright, though it seems a mist might be starting to come in. Then after a few more minutes, you hear a whisper from the shadows; the thief is behind you. You didn't notice him pass through the gate, but he's here, standing in a place where he won't be visible to the guard, looking at you with a neutral expression. Well? What's it to be?
Soar and Jalt, you saw the half-elf leaving the stables and heading up the stairs to the first floor, but you didn't see what he did after that.
"Before we get to the pouch, I want you to answer some questions. Don't ask me why."
"How long have you been following these cultists for? Who is this dragon queen you speak of? Where did you get the pouch? What more do you know of these dragon worshipers?"
The half elf takes a moment to think. His neutral expression sours into a scowl, but his reply is measured.
Five weeks. Tiamat, they said. The pouch itself? I picked it from a traveller's pocket. I know they have twisted dreams of the future and having dragons rule the world, and other crap like that. They're nuts. But dangerous.
I've answered your questions. Now give me my pouch, and let me go.
Nate frowns at the half elf's response... he was thinking the half elf would divulge more information, but now retrospectively it makes sense if this is all he knows. Or is it? Nate's kind of falling apart mentally here, regretting meeting this thief. He's in over his head. Charisma isn't his thing.
"I'm afraid I can't do that. You haven't satisfied my... requirements. I need to know more. Where is their headquarters? Where are they running their operations from? And why the hell are they here, at this roadhouse?"
Nate would glance at Nub, likely showing his nervousness, basically putting off the fact that they don't have any pouch to give back.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Their headquarters? The thief looks at you in exasperation. How in the Hells would I know? I'm the lowest rank grunt in the... Why not ask Jolus, or Henton? Or don't, because I don't think they even know. The Roadhouse is something to do with how they're taking all their look to this.... Okay, maybe this is what you mean by the headquarters? There's supposed to be some castle in the Mere, where they're all holed up. The loot goes one way, don't ask me how. We go another way, but only in small groups. And no, I don't know where it is. Like I said, I'm low rank and not really trusted.
Now come on, give me my pouch. I promise, you'll never see me again. And I'll spend the money on good stuff. Like, my family, they need money. Please, just... Come on, man.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Nub Insight check on whether he seems to be being honest with the family comment (whether the thief is doing this because his family needs it and whether it will go to said family): 20
He's pretty young. For a half-elf, he's not much more than a kid. You reckon some of the money will go to his family, but probably quite a lot will go on... other things.
"Most excellent. This is exactly what I was looking for. Now, you listen to me, and listen good. I could care less what the money is going to go towards, because it's not yours. It belongs to the fine folks of Greenest, if you've even heard of that town. I don't know how you've gotten yourself on this path, but it's the wrong one and you need to get on the right one. This will be your first step. Consider yourself lucky I didn't run you through back in the cultists room."
"As a token of my appreciation, let me give you this dagger." Nate reaches out to hand him the +1 dagger, the serpent one that he just bought. "I do appreciate everything you've told me, but there's no way I can give you back the pouch. Take this as a consolation prize, consider yourself lucky to be alive, and leave my sight. NOW."
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Yes I think we are hanging out in the yard, there in case there’s an immediate fight in the stables but ready to head outside too.
Jalt, Soar and Jamna wait in the yard. Mack the Guard is still on duty, as he was when you left. He nods at you, and as you settle in a corner to talk, he eyes you curiously. Jamna gets up and saunters over to talk to him; you can't quite make out what they're talking about, but she's keeping him entertained - and distracted - for the moment.
Nate and Nub hear into the stable, where in one corner a group of stablehands are gathered in a small circle talking and apparently playing some sort of game involving moving small stones. In the darkness of the other corner, you eventually make out the silhouette of the unnamed thief, watching you through half-elf darkvision eyes, and waiting for you to spot him. As you approach, he regards you in sullen, wary silence.
Once Nate sees the slimy half-elf, he will make a 'follow me' motion towards him to get him to follow. Then Nate will walk to the roadhouse gate and then outside, constantly looking back to make sure the thief is following. And of course hoping Nub is also with him. "If he wants his jewels, he will follow us. This is going to be on our terms. If he doesn't, then we will either head back to the tunnel entrance, or go to bed. I hope the latter." Nate says to Nub. *yawns*
(I assume there is some light from the roadhouse emanating outside the main gate, yes?)
Nub follows Nate's lead.
The thief frowns, and then whispers. You go ahead. I'll follow. He makes no move as you head out of the stables into the yard.
There is light from the moon and stars in the yard. Mack has a torch, and there are torches set in the gate. Otherwise, it's pretty dark out there.
Nub says to Nate “I’m probably being paranoid, but did that group of stablehands look suspicious to you?"
[DM question: How many stablehands were there? Did they look suspicious to Nub?]
Make an Insight check, with disadvantage because the darkness make it hard to see their faces or manner clearly.
Nub insight: 4
Nub, you don't think it's all that strange to find the stablehands in the stables - it is where they sleep, as far as you know. You can't be sure though.
Are you both exiting the stables?
Yes to exiting the stables, Nub follows Nate (who indicated he was going to the roadhouse gate and then outside).
Yep. Nate would try and keep an eye on the half-elf as they walked out, although might be difficult as he's likely going first. Hoping Nub keeps his tortle eyes on him. We won't go too far outside the gate. Nate still needs to be able to see. Maybe far enough away to not draw attention from the guards, but also be able to see. Hoping the moon is bright.
Soar and Jalt, you see Nate and Nub exit the stables without any sign that the half-elf was there. They pass by, and head out through the main gate.
Nate and Nub, once through the gate, you find a spot where you can see the gate, and though the guard can see you, he's not really paying attention to you.
You wait in the night for around ten minutes. The moon and stars are still bright, though it seems a mist might be starting to come in. Then after a few more minutes, you hear a whisper from the shadows; the thief is behind you. You didn't notice him pass through the gate, but he's here, standing in a place where he won't be visible to the guard, looking at you with a neutral expression. Well? What's it to be?
Soar and Jalt, you saw the half-elf leaving the stables and heading up the stairs to the first floor, but you didn't see what he did after that.
(ok... I'm actually scared)
Nate will turn around and look at the thief.
"Before we get to the pouch, I want you to answer some questions. Don't ask me why."
"How long have you been following these cultists for? Who is this dragon queen you speak of? Where did you get the pouch? What more do you know of these dragon worshipers?"
The half elf takes a moment to think. His neutral expression sours into a scowl, but his reply is measured.
Five weeks. Tiamat, they said. The pouch itself? I picked it from a traveller's pocket. I know they have twisted dreams of the future and having dragons rule the world, and other crap like that. They're nuts. But dangerous.
I've answered your questions. Now give me my pouch, and let me go.
Nate frowns at the half elf's response... he was thinking the half elf would divulge more information, but now retrospectively it makes sense if this is all he knows. Or is it? Nate's kind of falling apart mentally here, regretting meeting this thief. He's in over his head. Charisma isn't his thing.
"I'm afraid I can't do that. You haven't satisfied my... requirements. I need to know more. Where is their headquarters? Where are they running their operations from? And why the hell are they here, at this roadhouse?"
Nate would glance at Nub, likely showing his nervousness, basically putting off the fact that they don't have any pouch to give back.
Their headquarters? The thief looks at you in exasperation. How in the Hells would I know? I'm the lowest rank grunt in the... Why not ask Jolus, or Henton? Or don't, because I don't think they even know. The Roadhouse is something to do with how they're taking all their look to this.... Okay, maybe this is what you mean by the headquarters? There's supposed to be some castle in the Mere, where they're all holed up. The loot goes one way, don't ask me how. We go another way, but only in small groups. And no, I don't know where it is. Like I said, I'm low rank and not really trusted.
Insight 10
Now come on, give me my pouch. I promise, you'll never see me again. And I'll spend the money on good stuff. Like, my family, they need money. Please, just... Come on, man.
Nub Insight check on whether he seems to be being honest with the family comment (whether the thief is doing this because his family needs it and whether it will go to said family): 20
He's pretty young. For a half-elf, he's not much more than a kid. You reckon some of the money will go to his family, but probably quite a lot will go on... other things.
Nate sends an evil grin to the thief.
"Most excellent. This is exactly what I was looking for. Now, you listen to me, and listen good. I could care less what the money is going to go towards, because it's not yours. It belongs to the fine folks of Greenest, if you've even heard of that town. I don't know how you've gotten yourself on this path, but it's the wrong one and you need to get on the right one. This will be your first step. Consider yourself lucky I didn't run you through back in the cultists room."
"As a token of my appreciation, let me give you this dagger." Nate reaches out to hand him the +1 dagger, the serpent one that he just bought. "I do appreciate everything you've told me, but there's no way I can give you back the pouch. Take this as a consolation prize, consider yourself lucky to be alive, and leave my sight. NOW."