The only faces they saw were Soar and mine. Jalt says. I doubt we'd be able to sneak around much not knowing where and if Cyanwrath's goons were who saw us. He looks to Breena and Elspeth. The two of you however, you would be able to move around more freely. Posing as mercenaries, we might be able to gather even more information.

Dangerous to split up, growls Escobert, but necessary at times.  You'll do it then?  He glances at the governor and then back to Elspeth.  You'll take this task on for us?

(If you want to get any supplies, let me know by posting in the thread.  Equipment or the armour of fallen raiders, for example.  What are you bringing?)

Jalt would like to procure 2 sets of manacles and portable ram from one of the vendors.

(Are you sure about the Ram, Portable?  It weighs 35 pounds and is very large...)

(It'll lead to something else Jalt will try to get his hands on soon lol)

"The extra uniforms could be useful, but I'll hold off on switching armor," Soar says. She tries to find a cultist robe or uniform that fits her well enough to go over her armor and seems believable.

Soar picks up an extra tinderbox and some oil. "Leaving a fire somewhere we're not could be something that helps us cover ourselves or distract them."

She also picks up a whistle and a bag of caltrops. She looks at the hunting trap but thinks it too cumbersome to bring along.

"Elspeth, I have a feeling you'll be game for more scouting this go-round, kind of like old times," Soar says. She's ready to head out whenever her friends are. "How far is to where Tored says the camp's located? And you said wildlands -- what kind? Rocky? Forest? Plains? We're kind of nocturnal now, so maybe we could approach on cover of night and find some decent place from which to make some scouting forays closer to camp. Thoughts?"

Breena would like to grab a bag of ball bearings, a flask (to fill with liquor before they leave town), and a lantern for Jalt when he needs it. 

“If we need to split up, we definitely can,” she says. “I don’t think I need to change armor, mines steady leather and it’s little enough for me, but if there’s different clothes or something that’ll make me look like one of them, I’ll take that. If there’s small ones. Going at night seems smart, except Jalt can’t see...”

Elspeth will grab a mirror if there's one spare.

"I don't like splitting up, but it might be necessary. Getting into the camp would be the hard part, if I'm scouting around, i don't want heavy armor to weigh me down but if you can find a shield, it would be much appreciated." 

She gives Breena a reluctant grin. "Guess it'll be the two of us then, if we're doing this. If we're scouting, then we'll have to take advantage of the cover of the night. Jalt, you'll have to rely on one of us who can see in the dark. If we're infiltrating into the camp, I don't suppose it'll make a difference whether we're going at night or day. Alternatively, if we're splitting up, Soar and Jalt might as well try and capture any guards that wander by for more information. Thoughts?"

(You are able to pick up all the items you've listed, for no cost.  Please make sure you add them to your character sheets.)

Governor Nighthill and Castellan Escobert listen attentively to your discussions, but do not interrupt.  From Tored's description, you know that the camp is just under a day's journey, roughly south-east, though the governor wants you to bring back a more exact description.

And I have a request, if you could help us? Jalt interjects. A wagon. Big enough to hide Soar, me and that ram in the back. A team of horses to pull it. We might be able to get further into their lands and would also make bringing one of them back, easier. And we may not need to infiltrate their ranks, but instead bring them to us.

The governor nods sharply.  It will be done.

Escobert pops his head outside the room and gives orders quietly to one of the guards before returning.

Jalt looks to the others. Elspeth and Breena can drive the wagon. He points to Soar. You and I will be the cargo. I would assume that they'd try to rob our wagon. If we can convince one to take us back to their camp, under the guise of being "captured." He stops to think. Or maybe they disguise themselves as bandits and just try to lead our wagon into the camp as supplies plundered? Possibilities are endless.

"I think disguising Elspeth and Breena as returning bandits might be the best bet, though wouldn't the cultists want to check out the cargo? I don't have a very good loot impression these days," Soar says to Jalt with a smile.

"We could try to hide in other plundered supplies but that could backfire if they look closely. And I'm not sure we will be able to convince one of them to take us back to their camp with us as fake captives. They would would only return with us under duress. So that means a fight, if we run across any patrols well outside the camp -- we'd have to take them out or subdue them. But we can do that just as well without a cart. Is there a reason you want to bring the ram?"

She stands up and begins pacing around the room.

"It might be better to be mobile and quick and easier to hide as we approach. I like the idea of having the cart stashed between here and the camp, as a getaway and means to bring back a captive.. or if we can free some of the people they took. Governor, have you taken a census at all to see how many people are missing?"

Perhaps ten dead, five or six unaccounted for, though more bodies may be found in time.  We know they have prisoners; at least one group of thugs was observed carrying a man away.  I may have a better count, and names, by the morning.  The governor scowls, his face reddening.  If you can release my people, I would be beyond grateful.

Jalt smiles as he pats the ram. The thing about dragon cults is they don't usually carry this many in their numbers. And if we're going to have to siege a tower, or storm some barn He pats it again. This will come in handy. I haven't had the pleasure of using one in a while though, unfortunately. But there's always hope

"If we see anyone and can get anyone out, we will, governor," Soar says with a friendly look.

"Can you carry the ram yourself if we need to stow the cart outside their camp, Jalt? Or leave it in the cart if we see that the camp is too temporary for anything secure enough to batter down? It'd be silly if it's a bunch of tents. Bringing the cart in their sight might be too obvious. But I trust you. It'll probably work out! Scouting out new places is my favorite."

Soar is ready to go, and if things actually get going, she'll insist on a slower, more careful pace, everyone with their eyes peeled for: things the cultists left behind as they traveled, any cultists lying in wait, any traps they left behind, ambushes, signs, etc. 

"I feel we have a decent idea of what we're planning on doing already. We should at least get a decent idea of what we're going into before we decide on anything more."

Elspeth tugs at a stray strand of hair absentmindedly, then tucks it behind her ear. "I'm pretty confident I can sneak up as close as I want without being spotted, to gather some prelimary information. How many guards there are, their location, where the prisoners are kept. If we're bringing a cart, I can certainly scout ahead. I'm not a great actor." She adds, a touch nervously. "You might have to coach me on what to say if we're to be posing as mercenaries."

Elspeth is fine leaving whenever the others are ready.

Jalt nods. Ok then, if we have what we need. He salutes the governor and leaves the room. He asks one of the guards where the wagon is and starts to make his way towards the wagon.

I know you haven't been up long, but perhaps it would be best to rest for the night, suggests Escobert.  It's just after sundown, so you could rest now and get started at the crack of dawn.  If you're taking a wagon, much better to travel in the daytime.  It's up to you, of course.  

The governor nods.  Either way, I doubt I will see you again before you depart.  Please, take care; it would be a blow to Greenest and my people to hear that you had fallen.  Come back safely.  He shakes each of your hands as you leave the room.

(You can make a start now if you wish; you will travel a little more slowly and at greater risk in the dark, but will reach your destination sooner.  Otherwise, you could take another long rest and head out at dawn.)

(How long is the journey?)