(Soar can also use lay on hands, but she's waiting to see if she feels any better before trying and potentially wasting any more healing magic or potion.)
The gargoyles all look like the one on the caravan cart, but they could be excellent statues or real gargoyles, you don't know from a visual inspection. As far as I know, you don't have any keys to either room, and the doors don't have bolts.
From your description, you're not spending any time or effort in really searching either room or the two slain enemies at this stage, so no, you don't find anything. You are able to get the sword and mask without touching them.
Nub is able to cast rope trick, so you are now, the four of you, secreted in Nub's small spell space, along with the wizard's body and Rezmir's sword and mask, but not Rezmir's body, is that right? Did you leave that body in the hallway?
Nate would've burst back on the scene "guys... I tried to chase him but I couldn't see him anywhere. There are a few rooms though where he could've went. Or maybe he teleported off this flying thing altogether. At least we got HER."
"Anyways, I didn't mean to leave you guys like that. From the looks of it, things got pretty bad. I'm hurt too and yeah that rope thing sounds great."
Before the rope, Nate would've helped Soar move the drake bodies, along with Rezmir's body, into the east room with the gargoyles. He would stay away from those statues at all times.
Nate would also want to have a look in the room where the drakes were (Jos's bedroom?) to snoop around. Looks like there could be some interesting things in there? There's a desk I think? He would do this as fast as he can, though, as he thinks someone must've heard the fight even though he saw no one in the main section.
If you're searching as fast as you can, then it will be with disadvantage. Please roll another d20, and I think we'll use Perception for this so your modifier is 7.
There is an interesting book on a lectern in one corner, but as Nate reaches for it he knocks the lectern over and the book goes skidding across the icy floor to the other side of the room. Nate doesn't have time to pick it up, and he finds nothing else with such a quick search. He tries a desk drawer, but it's either stuck or locked, and he can't open it.
You all enter into the rope trick magical space, and the rope withdraws. Over the next hour, you can complete a short rest if you wish. No-one passes by through the hallway that you can see.
Is there anything you want to do while you are resting?
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
(I just assumed that you said the body turned to ash, and we were just left with her clothes and possessions? If her body's still there, then yeah, throw into one of the rooms. The goal is to get evidence out of the way for anyone coming by.)
Soar drops her caltrops under the rope trick portal, such that someone would have to walk on them to get down the hall or under the portal, even if invisible.
"It's okay, Nate. Thanks for trying to get him. I feel like we almost had him, but then he bolted. I have to assume he's going to tell the rest of the cultists about us, so that's why I wanted to get out of sight. But maybe he just teleported away. I really needed to try to see to these wounds, otherwise I would have chased him too. Let's look at what we have found here on this wizard, and Rezmir's clothes, and then look a bit more closely in the rooms here. Then, well, I'm not really sure what we should do. I suppose we confront the remaining cultists on board, now that their leader is gone. They can either surrender or try to fly home. I'm not sure if we talk to Blagothkus before or after this. I forget, did he say exactly where they were headed? North, right?"
Does Soar continue to feel as bad as she felt before? Either way, after a couple minutes of composing herself, she tries to lay on hands just a tiny bit. 1hp. If it works, she tries another 4hp for 5 total. She also, I hope, can roll 3 HD: 22
The only thing she's trying to do with the rest is to recharge, watch out the portal, rifle through the loot, and plan a bit with the party. If she can help Nub ascertain what magical properties the items have, she'll do that. Once the rest is done, she'll examine the rooms much more carefully.
Yes, it would just be ash, so you clear the ash into one of the rooms and close the door...
Soar feels mostly fine. There's a strange memory of the effect that prevented her healing, but it's no longer in operation. The one HP of Lay On Hands works fine, and you can all complete a short rest provided you do nothing strenuous. You can spend an hour studying and getting an understanding of any one of the suspected magical items you've discovered. If you do that, let me know which one. Any of you can do the same. However, if you want Nub to ritual cast Identify, that will prevent him from benefitting from a short rest.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
"Ok, thanks Soar. I left the room and then heard what sounded like very bad things happening to you, so I bolted back. Yeah, I have no idea what we should do now. Oh we can for sure bet that Jos is going to tell the other cultists if there are any others in this castle, and then we're gonna have more trouble. I agree with your plan and yes I want to have a better look in Rezmir's room as I think I saw something but was scared... I mean... well, I'm a bit hurt so I wanted to get to the rest rope as fast as I could."
"Ok. So let's take some time, and then check out these rooms better. Oh, we should try and stay away from those gargoyle statues though. Then, I say we start storming rooms. I mean, they must know we are here by now (after rope). Might as well get the head start. Either that, or just stake out here and wait until they come for us."
Nate uses natural recovery and recovers 1 level 3 spell and a wildshape slot.
"Ahhhh. Good to go! Let's go try to finish this. Yeah I think it is heading north if I recall. Let's try and get more of them after we check these rooms and then report back to big B."
(I still don't have the ability to edit Nub's character sheet, so I'm not certain how much hp he's down and how many slots exactly he used. I think I used one 3rd level slot with slow, two second levels with rope trick and flaming sphere, and no first levels. He only got hit once for a tiny bit, so can we say he used an HD or two to get back up to full, and arcane recovery to get his third level back, and that's it? I'm also good with him just getting the short rest and perhaps identifying outside the rope trick.)
Soar's fine with everyone just resting and looking around during the rest. "I'd think that if Jos had raised the alarm, we'd have heard something, or seen someone looking. Let's be careful, but we can maybe assume that we're safe. I'm the optimist, remember?"She gives a stronger grin, her wounds looking much much better than they once did. She gives Jalt his potion back, thanking him, and showing him the two she's got. She drinks one for 6.
She suggests they look at the horse skull room and really investigate for any clues or papers or anything that would help them learn more about the cult's plans. Searching for anything hinky first, looking at the gargoyles for any sign of movement, trying not to be surprised by the cousin of the mean caravan gargoyle. Soar looks to always-observant Jalt to keep his eyes and ears wide open for anything.
Soar helps Nub look around. Investigation: 22
Did the wizard have anything at all interesting in his clothes or on his person?
Then she'd suggest they look at the room Rezmir came out of, also looking for anything hinky before moving more inside, looking for the book Nate almost grabbed, and through any papers, anything at all interesting.
Perhaps Nate can help Nub look around here? Investigation: 17
What she's not sure about is looking around more rooms before talking to Blagothkus or after. Seems talking to him again after ridding his castle of Rezmir and two drakes might make him a bit more comfortable with an alliance. But looking around more rooms could be helpful -- confirming no cult activity or that they surrender. She supposes that if they run into more ogres or creatures that work for Blagothkus, they could lean into their dealing with the giant and tell them that they're ridding the castle of cultists with his blessing, and the party's no threat to anyone with Blagothkus.
(Was assuming Nub would handle the investigation with Soar and Nate assisting, and Jalt handling the keeping-watch-perception task. Though an actual check shows that perhaps Nate can handle the keeping-watch-perception part because he's really good at that, whoops, and Jalt can maybe assist the search? Hope that's not retconning or metagaming -- I meant to have the high wisdom, very perceptive person keep an eye out for anything hidden or shifting gargoyles, and the rest of us help Nub the good investigator actually search the rooms. Soar isn't too bright or wise but she does know people and their strengths, and assumedly would know by now who's best at what...)
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Nate is totally happy with keeping watch. He's going to hug the wall just outside those rooms we are currently checking, basically listening and going back and forth from the south door and the north section, keeping a sharp ear and eye out for anyone who might be coming back for us.
Perception 14
Nate will do that and wait to see what the others find in the rooms.
(I'm happy with Nub's restored HP and arcane recovery, as suggested above.)
You exit the rope trick space, and search the two rooms, first the one previously occupied by the wizard, then Rezmir's study. I will take it that Nub is leading on both investigations, and that everyone is supporting and that you're taking your time. Those are some good rolls, so let's go over what you find.
First of all, on the wizard's body, you find an interesting and clearly magical staff that he was holding. It feels warm to the touch for Nub, though the rest of you don't get such a strong sense. However, you will need to identify it later.
Also on the wizard's body are three spell scrolls: Dimension Door, Feather Fall and Fireball, which Nub would happily take I assume. There is no money and nothing else of interest on the wizard's body.
In the wizards' room, you find several letters from an individual named Severin to an individual named Rath Modar, which you now guess was the name of the wizard. You don't learn much detail of the cult's plans from the letters, but you do get confirmation and physical proof that there is strong co-operation between the Cult of the Dragon and the Red Wizards of Thay. However, you find further letters, from various individual in Thay, giving updates on the situation there. It's clear that there is much division within the ranks of the Red Wizards, and many do not support the alliance with the cult.
You find the book that Nate knocked onto the ground. It's written in a language which both Soar and Jalt recognise as Infernal. Its title is Beyond the Iron Gates, and though you can flick through now and get a sense it refers to summoning of some kind, it would take you several hours to read.
Finally, Nub finds some wooden cases which contain extremely expensive-looking paper and ink. These are the supplies he would need to transfer spells from scrolls into his spellbook; he finds a total of 700 gold's worth of paper and supplies. You did not find the dead wizard's spellbook.
After finishing off in the wizards' room, you head into Rezmir's study, passing by the two dead drakes. There are some papers on the desk; they refer to transportation of treasure, and provide concrete proof of the scale of the cultists' plans, though you do not learn anything much that you didn't know already. The papers refer to the Well of Dragons as the ultimate destination of the treasure, though there is no information on its location.
There is a large chest set on a table in the far corner of the room which looks sturdy and expensive.
I think Nub would immediately sit down and ritually cast identify on the staff, after happily pocketing the scrolls, and nearly keeling over with joy as he grabs the paper and ink.
Soar puts away the papers, wondering if she will ever see Leosin or Ontharr again. "I think we're basically on this alone. Unless we have a way to send a message to Leosin or Ontharr from here. You all have better magical abilities than I do, though I've learned some tricks myself!"
She looks at the chest, and without touching it, tries to figure out if it seems trapped or locked, asking Nate and Jalt to help. (OOC: every once in a while I wish we had a rogue in the party, but not often...)
( Dont forget Jalt gave Soar a healing potion)
Hoard of the Dragon Queen - Jalt Rhogar - Dragonborn Cleric (9)
"Ive heard it both ways."
(Soar can also use lay on hands, but she's waiting to see if she feels any better before trying and potentially wasting any more healing magic or potion.)
The gargoyles all look like the one on the caravan cart, but they could be excellent statues or real gargoyles, you don't know from a visual inspection. As far as I know, you don't have any keys to either room, and the doors don't have bolts.
From your description, you're not spending any time or effort in really searching either room or the two slain enemies at this stage, so no, you don't find anything. You are able to get the sword and mask without touching them.
Nub is able to cast rope trick, so you are now, the four of you, secreted in Nub's small spell space, along with the wizard's body and Rezmir's sword and mask, but not Rezmir's body, is that right? Did you leave that body in the hallway?
Nate would've burst back on the scene "guys... I tried to chase him but I couldn't see him anywhere. There are a few rooms though where he could've went. Or maybe he teleported off this flying thing altogether. At least we got HER."
"Anyways, I didn't mean to leave you guys like that. From the looks of it, things got pretty bad. I'm hurt too and yeah that rope thing sounds great."
Before the rope, Nate would've helped Soar move the drake bodies, along with Rezmir's body, into the east room with the gargoyles. He would stay away from those statues at all times.
Nate would also want to have a look in the room where the drakes were (Jos's bedroom?) to snoop around. Looks like there could be some interesting things in there? There's a desk I think? He would do this as fast as he can, though, as he thinks someone must've heard the fight even though he saw no one in the main section.
here's a roll, you can add appropriate mods! 7
If you're searching as fast as you can, then it will be with disadvantage. Please roll another d20, and I think we'll use Perception for this so your modifier is 7.
Yes, Nate definitely would not be taking his sweet time in that room. Just a quick once over, maybe open the drawers etc. here's the other roll: 1
Serves him right for rushing.
.
There is an interesting book on a lectern in one corner, but as Nate reaches for it he knocks the lectern over and the book goes skidding across the icy floor to the other side of the room. Nate doesn't have time to pick it up, and he finds nothing else with such a quick search. He tries a desk drawer, but it's either stuck or locked, and he can't open it.
You all enter into the rope trick magical space, and the rope withdraws. Over the next hour, you can complete a short rest if you wish. No-one passes by through the hallway that you can see.
Is there anything you want to do while you are resting?
(short rest 2 hit die 16 )
Jalt would motion to Soar Let us see the mask and sword.
Hoard of the Dragon Queen - Jalt Rhogar - Dragonborn Cleric (9)
"Ive heard it both ways."
(I just assumed that you said the body turned to ash, and we were just left with her clothes and possessions? If her body's still there, then yeah, throw into one of the rooms. The goal is to get evidence out of the way for anyone coming by.)
Soar drops her caltrops under the rope trick portal, such that someone would have to walk on them to get down the hall or under the portal, even if invisible.
"It's okay, Nate. Thanks for trying to get him. I feel like we almost had him, but then he bolted. I have to assume he's going to tell the rest of the cultists about us, so that's why I wanted to get out of sight. But maybe he just teleported away. I really needed to try to see to these wounds, otherwise I would have chased him too. Let's look at what we have found here on this wizard, and Rezmir's clothes, and then look a bit more closely in the rooms here. Then, well, I'm not really sure what we should do. I suppose we confront the remaining cultists on board, now that their leader is gone. They can either surrender or try to fly home. I'm not sure if we talk to Blagothkus before or after this. I forget, did he say exactly where they were headed? North, right?"
Does Soar continue to feel as bad as she felt before? Either way, after a couple minutes of composing herself, she tries to lay on hands just a tiny bit. 1hp. If it works, she tries another 4hp for 5 total. She also, I hope, can roll 3 HD: 22
The only thing she's trying to do with the rest is to recharge, watch out the portal, rifle through the loot, and plan a bit with the party. If she can help Nub ascertain what magical properties the items have, she'll do that. Once the rest is done, she'll examine the rooms much more carefully.
Another HD: 10
Yes, it would just be ash, so you clear the ash into one of the rooms and close the door...
Soar feels mostly fine. There's a strange memory of the effect that prevented her healing, but it's no longer in operation. The one HP of Lay On Hands works fine, and you can all complete a short rest provided you do nothing strenuous. You can spend an hour studying and getting an understanding of any one of the suspected magical items you've discovered. If you do that, let me know which one. Any of you can do the same. However, if you want Nub to ritual cast Identify, that will prevent him from benefitting from a short rest.
"Ok, thanks Soar. I left the room and then heard what sounded like very bad things happening to you, so I bolted back. Yeah, I have no idea what we should do now. Oh we can for sure bet that Jos is going to tell the other cultists if there are any others in this castle, and then we're gonna have more trouble. I agree with your plan and yes I want to have a better look in Rezmir's room as I think I saw something but was scared... I mean... well, I'm a bit hurt so I wanted to get to the rest rope as fast as I could."
"Ok. So let's take some time, and then check out these rooms better. Oh, we should try and stay away from those gargoyle statues though. Then, I say we start storming rooms. I mean, they must know we are here by now (after rope). Might as well get the head start. Either that, or just stake out here and wait until they come for us."
Nate uses natural recovery and recovers 1 level 3 spell and a wildshape slot.
He also uses 3 hit die. 24
"Ahhhh. Good to go! Let's go try to finish this. Yeah I think it is heading north if I recall. Let's try and get more of them after we check these rooms and then report back to big B."
(I still don't have the ability to edit Nub's character sheet, so I'm not certain how much hp he's down and how many slots exactly he used. I think I used one 3rd level slot with slow, two second levels with rope trick and flaming sphere, and no first levels. He only got hit once for a tiny bit, so can we say he used an HD or two to get back up to full, and arcane recovery to get his third level back, and that's it? I'm also good with him just getting the short rest and perhaps identifying outside the rope trick.)
Soar's fine with everyone just resting and looking around during the rest. "I'd think that if Jos had raised the alarm, we'd have heard something, or seen someone looking. Let's be careful, but we can maybe assume that we're safe. I'm the optimist, remember?" She gives a stronger grin, her wounds looking much much better than they once did. She gives Jalt his potion back, thanking him, and showing him the two she's got. She drinks one for 6.
She suggests they look at the horse skull room and really investigate for any clues or papers or anything that would help them learn more about the cult's plans. Searching for anything hinky first, looking at the gargoyles for any sign of movement, trying not to be surprised by the cousin of the mean caravan gargoyle. Soar looks to always-observant Jalt to keep his eyes and ears wide open for anything.
Soar helps Nub look around. Investigation: 22
Did the wizard have anything at all interesting in his clothes or on his person?
Then she'd suggest they look at the room Rezmir came out of, also looking for anything hinky before moving more inside, looking for the book Nate almost grabbed, and through any papers, anything at all interesting.
Perhaps Nate can help Nub look around here? Investigation: 17
What she's not sure about is looking around more rooms before talking to Blagothkus or after. Seems talking to him again after ridding his castle of Rezmir and two drakes might make him a bit more comfortable with an alliance. But looking around more rooms could be helpful -- confirming no cult activity or that they surrender. She supposes that if they run into more ogres or creatures that work for Blagothkus, they could lean into their dealing with the giant and tell them that they're ridding the castle of cultists with his blessing, and the party's no threat to anyone with Blagothkus.
Jalt will indeed keep his eyes open as they make their way through the rooms.
Investigation: 5
if he gets advantage since everyone's looking around: 22
(I sure hope he has advantage lol)
Hoard of the Dragon Queen - Jalt Rhogar - Dragonborn Cleric (9)
"Ive heard it both ways."
(Was assuming Nub would handle the investigation with Soar and Nate assisting, and Jalt handling the keeping-watch-perception task. Though an actual check shows that perhaps Nate can handle the keeping-watch-perception part because he's really good at that, whoops, and Jalt can maybe assist the search? Hope that's not retconning or metagaming -- I meant to have the high wisdom, very perceptive person keep an eye out for anything hidden or shifting gargoyles, and the rest of us help Nub the good investigator actually search the rooms. Soar isn't too bright or wise but she does know people and their strengths, and assumedly would know by now who's best at what...)
(Hahaha... no meta gaming but I think you forgot all those times Jalt had no clue what was going on)
Hoard of the Dragon Queen - Jalt Rhogar - Dragonborn Cleric (9)
"Ive heard it both ways."
Nate is totally happy with keeping watch. He's going to hug the wall just outside those rooms we are currently checking, basically listening and going back and forth from the south door and the north section, keeping a sharp ear and eye out for anyone who might be coming back for us.
Perception 14
Nate will do that and wait to see what the others find in the rooms.
(I'm happy with Nub's restored HP and arcane recovery, as suggested above.)
You exit the rope trick space, and search the two rooms, first the one previously occupied by the wizard, then Rezmir's study. I will take it that Nub is leading on both investigations, and that everyone is supporting and that you're taking your time. Those are some good rolls, so let's go over what you find.
First of all, on the wizard's body, you find an interesting and clearly magical staff that he was holding. It feels warm to the touch for Nub, though the rest of you don't get such a strong sense. However, you will need to identify it later.
Also on the wizard's body are three spell scrolls: Dimension Door, Feather Fall and Fireball, which Nub would happily take I assume. There is no money and nothing else of interest on the wizard's body.
In the wizards' room, you find several letters from an individual named Severin to an individual named Rath Modar, which you now guess was the name of the wizard. You don't learn much detail of the cult's plans from the letters, but you do get confirmation and physical proof that there is strong co-operation between the Cult of the Dragon and the Red Wizards of Thay. However, you find further letters, from various individual in Thay, giving updates on the situation there. It's clear that there is much division within the ranks of the Red Wizards, and many do not support the alliance with the cult.
You find the book that Nate knocked onto the ground. It's written in a language which both Soar and Jalt recognise as Infernal. Its title is Beyond the Iron Gates, and though you can flick through now and get a sense it refers to summoning of some kind, it would take you several hours to read.
Finally, Nub finds some wooden cases which contain extremely expensive-looking paper and ink. These are the supplies he would need to transfer spells from scrolls into his spellbook; he finds a total of 700 gold's worth of paper and supplies. You did not find the dead wizard's spellbook.
After finishing off in the wizards' room, you head into Rezmir's study, passing by the two dead drakes. There are some papers on the desk; they refer to transportation of treasure, and provide concrete proof of the scale of the cultists' plans, though you do not learn anything much that you didn't know already. The papers refer to the Well of Dragons as the ultimate destination of the treasure, though there is no information on its location.
There is a large chest set on a table in the far corner of the room which looks sturdy and expensive.
I think Nub would immediately sit down and ritually cast identify on the staff, after happily pocketing the scrolls, and nearly keeling over with joy as he grabs the paper and ink.
Soar puts away the papers, wondering if she will ever see Leosin or Ontharr again. "I think we're basically on this alone. Unless we have a way to send a message to Leosin or Ontharr from here. You all have better magical abilities than I do, though I've learned some tricks myself!"
She looks at the chest, and without touching it, tries to figure out if it seems trapped or locked, asking Nate and Jalt to help. (OOC: every once in a while I wish we had a rogue in the party, but not often...)
Okay, Nub identifies the staff as a Staff of Fire.
Soar, make a fresh Investigation check - you can assume advantage and guidance, I expect.