(As Soar was approaching slowly, Breena and Elspeth do have a little time to talk to the human cultists beforehand. So I'll wait for Ducas and Rebelscum to post before resolving Soar's movement and stealth roll.)
Breena will glance up at Elspeth and then glare back at the humans. Since they seem more antagonistic toward her (as expected) she'll let Elspeth start and will chime in if it seems like she needs help.
Elspeth, doing her best to hide how nervous she is, raises both hands slightly to signify harmlessness.
"Greetings. We were part of the raid on Greenest. We've heard there's been... disturbances, along the road. I'm sure it won't inconvenience you if my companion and I travel back with you to the camp."
The first human frowns, but another speaks up. I think I saw another gnome, in one of the last mercenary groups. Not this one, though. I...
They are interrupted by the sound of Soar crashing into a large thicket and falling flat on her face in full view of the observers. What the... The three humans are all alert; the one sitting stands up, and they all draw their weapons. However, they don't move to attack. You there! Identify yourself! The human nearest to Soar, about thirty feet away, shouts in what is supposed to be a commanding tone, but comes across as a little panicky.
Soar, you are prone but unharmed, and initiative has not yet kicked in.
Jalt turns to his side and notices Soar has moved forward towards the others. Before even getting into the cart, he places a hand on the hilt of his mace once he hears the commotion ahead of him.
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Hoard of the Dragon Queen - Jalt Rhogar - Dragonborn Cleric (9)
(OOC: Whoops! Definitely meant to approach from the kobold side so as not to alert the humans. Oh well, rolling with it...)
Soar, face still in the dirt, raises a pointed finger in a "that did not go as planned" sort of reflex. Realizing she's potentially messed everything up through a utterly failed attempt to try to help her friends if the humans didn't believe them and attacked with numbers, she adopts one final grimace in her best cultist impression and stands up, brushing off her cultist robes.
Her eyes go directly for Breena. "Definitely cunning. Greenest still doesn't suspect us."She briefly looks at the humans and says with an impatient tone of voice, "Rhoare, what's it to you? You got a problem, take it up with Odder."She looks at the kobolds and nods at them, saying, "well, we're late getting back to camp, aren't we? What are they waiting for?"with a gesture at the human group. She says in draconic, "Might as well leave them behind, they're holding you back. And if they don't listen to you, leave them behind permanently. We'll help."
One of the human cultists spits into the ground. Odder never had much in the way of standards, but you're a new low. Fine. You three just keep your distance, and you're not getting any food. He motions for Soar to join Elspeth and Breena, and the three humans resume what they were doing: cooking and keeping watch.
A short while later, the food is cooked, the dinner eaten - mostly by the humans, with the kobolds resentfully being tossed a few scraps, though they seem to have had their own rations as well. It's a very rudimentary camp, but the human cultists take a little time to clear up. If you wish to do anything before this point, let me know. Otherwise, the small group will get underway shortly, and clearly they expect the three of you to join them.
Jalt, you are still some distance away, able to discern little except that there has clearly been no actual fighting.
Breena's wanderer feature allows her to easily find food and water for herself and up to 5 other creatures, provided the land offers berries, small game, etc. so she'll find food for the folks the humans are ignoring.
Soar gives Elspeth a look she's seen plenty times before, where she goes from horror, to humor, to optimism in a split second. She quietly tries to position the kobolds to the rear of the marching order and trails behind them with her friends, keeping a javelin close at hand.
And so, only a few minutes later, the strange band of human, cultists, and three infiltrators sets off towards the south-east, with Jalt following about a hundred feet behind with the oxen and cart, so far undetected.
The raiders know the way well; though they have little care to whether a cart can travel the route they take, in fact they choose the best possible path and both they and the following Jalt are able to make good time.
You are entering a more rugged region that the flatlands and low hills of the countryside around Greenest. You now see steep-sided rocky plateaus here and there, and you pass by a few; they tower above you, some fifty or a hundred feet above the surrounding land. You can see that it would be difficult to climb up, but the sides are dotted with caves which might lead upwards, but you cannot say for sure.
A few more hours of walking, and the sun is not far from setting when you come to the base of the tallest and largest plateau you have seen so far. A trail winds up one side, just enough to bring a cart up if you wish, but overhead you can see the unmistakable sight of a watch tower, with figures moving; they have a clear view of the large approaching group.
Breena, Soar and Elspeth, you are trailing along behind the humans and the kobolds, able just about to keep in line of sight with Jalt without the others spotting you.
Jalt, as you come round a small cluster of rocks, you look over and see the tall plateau in front of you, and at the top a structure that might be a watchtower. You quickly bring the cart to a halt; luckily, the natural depression of the ground here means that the cart is unlikely to be visible from any watching from atop the plateau. However, you have little ability to move without risking being seen.
Soar, Breena and Elspeth, you continue up the trail with the humans leading, the kobolds second and you third and last. You are not far behind the kobolds, though; they have warmed to your presence during the trip, especially as they have received gifts of food from Breena. One of the kobolds shows you two bags of coins that he has looted from Greenest; the larger he intends to turn in to their leaders, but the smaller he will keep for himself.
You pass through an open gate; no-one has challenged you. You see sentries in the watchtowers observing quietly. The human cultists seem happy to split up, and pay you no attention whatsoever; the kobolds on the other hand stay as a group and walk off to one side of the camp.
The sun will set shortly; you have enough light left to get a good view of the raiders' camp. It is a strange place, set atop a plateau over a hundred feet above the surrounding lands, a natural formation that is perhaps three or four hundred feet across. And yet the camp itself is in a sunken hollow, below the tip of the plateau, and thoroughly hidden from the outside You cannot see the countryside around - it is blocked by steep walls of rock on all sides. This is the perfect hiding spot for a camp such as this.
The ground is uneven; here and there are cave mouths that may lead to tunnels down into the rock below. There are several clusters of large tents where the raiders stay; those nearest to you are clearly occupied by kobolds, dozens of them. Further in, perhaps one or two hundred feet away, you see other races - humans, elves, a dragonborn, a couple of tieflings. Some groups were the leather armour of mercenaries, other groups the robes of the cultists, and the groups stay clear of each other it would seem. You cannot see the entirety of the camp, and will need to venture in to explore more. But the light is fading fast.
You have a wide variety of options. What would you like to do?
OOC: That was more direct than I expected, thanks DM! I really expected that to turn into a fight but now we're split up which isn't ideal - sorry Jalt.
Is there a place that the three of us can go off to gather and speak quietly without being obvious? One of the caves or behind a rock etc? As Soar realized she was actually going to go into the camp and not divert outside it, she would have got some dirt from the ground and the rocky outcroppings on her hands and slowly started to coat her very light hair and skin to be dirty and browner and less obvious.
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(As Soar was approaching slowly, Breena and Elspeth do have a little time to talk to the human cultists beforehand. So I'll wait for Ducas and Rebelscum to post before resolving Soar's movement and stealth roll.)
Breena will glance up at Elspeth and then glare back at the humans. Since they seem more antagonistic toward her (as expected) she'll let Elspeth start and will chime in if it seems like she needs help.
Rees Changeling Rogue in Tales From the Yawning Portal: Sunless Citadel
Nikya Centaur Blood Hunter in Death House Halloween Oneshot
Elspeth, doing her best to hide how nervous she is, raises both hands slightly to signify harmlessness.
"Greetings. We were part of the raid on Greenest. We've heard there's been... disturbances, along the road. I'm sure it won't inconvenience you if my companion and I travel back with you to the camp."
Elspeth, please make a Deception check. Breena, how will you help with this?
Deception: 3 (if Breena helps) 10
(Even though the second role is lower, I would still like to get Breena's words of help, as it may impact on what follows...
Breena nods, going for a conspiratorial smile. “They never suspected me.. thought I was one of their own. Pretty cunning, don’t you think?”
Rees Changeling Rogue in Tales From the Yawning Portal: Sunless Citadel
Nikya Centaur Blood Hunter in Death House Halloween Oneshot
The first human frowns, but another speaks up. I think I saw another gnome, in one of the last mercenary groups. Not this one, though. I...
They are interrupted by the sound of Soar crashing into a large thicket and falling flat on her face in full view of the observers. What the... The three humans are all alert; the one sitting stands up, and they all draw their weapons. However, they don't move to attack. You there! Identify yourself! The human nearest to Soar, about thirty feet away, shouts in what is supposed to be a commanding tone, but comes across as a little panicky.
Soar, you are prone but unharmed, and initiative has not yet kicked in.
Jalt turns to his side and notices Soar has moved forward towards the others. Before even getting into the cart, he places a hand on the hilt of his mace once he hears the commotion ahead of him.
Hoard of the Dragon Queen - Jalt Rhogar - Dragonborn Cleric (9)
"Ive heard it both ways."
Jalt is about sixty feet from the camp, so his preparations for battle go unseen by the raiders - for the moment.
Soar, Breena and Elspeth are in a position to influence how this turns out - what would you like to do?
(OOC: Whoops! Definitely meant to approach from the kobold side so as not to alert the humans. Oh well, rolling with it...)
Soar, face still in the dirt, raises a pointed finger in a "that did not go as planned" sort of reflex. Realizing she's potentially messed everything up through a utterly failed attempt to try to help her friends if the humans didn't believe them and attacked with numbers, she adopts one final grimace in her best cultist impression and stands up, brushing off her cultist robes.
Her eyes go directly for Breena. "Definitely cunning. Greenest still doesn't suspect us." She briefly looks at the humans and says with an impatient tone of voice, "Rhoare, what's it to you? You got a problem, take it up with Odder." She looks at the kobolds and nods at them, saying, "well, we're late getting back to camp, aren't we? What are they waiting for?" with a gesture at the human group. She says in draconic, "Might as well leave them behind, they're holding you back. And if they don't listen to you, leave them behind permanently. We'll help."
Soar, make a Deception check.
Deception: 21
One of the human cultists spits into the ground. Odder never had much in the way of standards, but you're a new low. Fine. You three just keep your distance, and you're not getting any food. He motions for Soar to join Elspeth and Breena, and the three humans resume what they were doing: cooking and keeping watch.
A short while later, the food is cooked, the dinner eaten - mostly by the humans, with the kobolds resentfully being tossed a few scraps, though they seem to have had their own rations as well. It's a very rudimentary camp, but the human cultists take a little time to clear up. If you wish to do anything before this point, let me know. Otherwise, the small group will get underway shortly, and clearly they expect the three of you to join them.
Jalt, you are still some distance away, able to discern little except that there has clearly been no actual fighting.
Breena's wanderer feature allows her to easily find food and water for herself and up to 5 other creatures, provided the land offers berries, small game, etc. so she'll find food for the folks the humans are ignoring.
Rees Changeling Rogue in Tales From the Yawning Portal: Sunless Citadel
Nikya Centaur Blood Hunter in Death House Halloween Oneshot
Soar gives Elspeth a look she's seen plenty times before, where she goes from horror, to humor, to optimism in a split second. She quietly tries to position the kobolds to the rear of the marching order and trails behind them with her friends, keeping a javelin close at hand.
And so, only a few minutes later, the strange band of human, cultists, and three infiltrators sets off towards the south-east, with Jalt following about a hundred feet behind with the oxen and cart, so far undetected.
The raiders know the way well; though they have little care to whether a cart can travel the route they take, in fact they choose the best possible path and both they and the following Jalt are able to make good time.
You are entering a more rugged region that the flatlands and low hills of the countryside around Greenest. You now see steep-sided rocky plateaus here and there, and you pass by a few; they tower above you, some fifty or a hundred feet above the surrounding land. You can see that it would be difficult to climb up, but the sides are dotted with caves which might lead upwards, but you cannot say for sure.
A few more hours of walking, and the sun is not far from setting when you come to the base of the tallest and largest plateau you have seen so far. A trail winds up one side, just enough to bring a cart up if you wish, but overhead you can see the unmistakable sight of a watch tower, with figures moving; they have a clear view of the large approaching group.
Breena, Soar and Elspeth, you are trailing along behind the humans and the kobolds, able just about to keep in line of sight with Jalt without the others spotting you.
Jalt, make a Perception check.
Perception: 15
Hoard of the Dragon Queen - Jalt Rhogar - Dragonborn Cleric (9)
"Ive heard it both ways."
Jalt, as you come round a small cluster of rocks, you look over and see the tall plateau in front of you, and at the top a structure that might be a watchtower. You quickly bring the cart to a halt; luckily, the natural depression of the ground here means that the cart is unlikely to be visible from any watching from atop the plateau. However, you have little ability to move without risking being seen.
Soar, Breena and Elspeth, you continue up the trail with the humans leading, the kobolds second and you third and last. You are not far behind the kobolds, though; they have warmed to your presence during the trip, especially as they have received gifts of food from Breena. One of the kobolds shows you two bags of coins that he has looted from Greenest; the larger he intends to turn in to their leaders, but the smaller he will keep for himself.
You pass through an open gate; no-one has challenged you. You see sentries in the watchtowers observing quietly. The human cultists seem happy to split up, and pay you no attention whatsoever; the kobolds on the other hand stay as a group and walk off to one side of the camp.
The sun will set shortly; you have enough light left to get a good view of the raiders' camp. It is a strange place, set atop a plateau over a hundred feet above the surrounding lands, a natural formation that is perhaps three or four hundred feet across. And yet the camp itself is in a sunken hollow, below the tip of the plateau, and thoroughly hidden from the outside You cannot see the countryside around - it is blocked by steep walls of rock on all sides. This is the perfect hiding spot for a camp such as this.
The ground is uneven; here and there are cave mouths that may lead to tunnels down into the rock below. There are several clusters of large tents where the raiders stay; those nearest to you are clearly occupied by kobolds, dozens of them. Further in, perhaps one or two hundred feet away, you see other races - humans, elves, a dragonborn, a couple of tieflings. Some groups were the leather armour of mercenaries, other groups the robes of the cultists, and the groups stay clear of each other it would seem. You cannot see the entirety of the camp, and will need to venture in to explore more. But the light is fading fast.
You have a wide variety of options. What would you like to do?
OOC: That was more direct than I expected, thanks DM! I really expected that to turn into a fight but now we're split up which isn't ideal - sorry Jalt.
Is there a place that the three of us can go off to gather and speak quietly without being obvious? One of the caves or behind a rock etc? As Soar realized she was actually going to go into the camp and not divert outside it, she would have got some dirt from the ground and the rocky outcroppings on her hands and slowly started to coat her very light hair and skin to be dirty and browner and less obvious.