"Woah... that's a lot of money."Nate naively says as he listens to Soar and Nub discuss things.
Once the party reaches the camp and the seemingly end of the walking options, Nate sarcastically says"Such a pleasant looking campsite, wouldn't you agree?"
Nate would look inside the lean tos to see if he finds anything of interest. Once he sees the canoes, he says "I haven't paddled a canoe in a long time. Looks like we might have to if we want to get any further."
The lean-tos contain a few baskets containing smoked fish along with some lizards and birds that have been smashed flat and dried in the sun. It all looks edible, but not very appetising. And it's all recent - the last couple of days.
Nate tells the others the obvious fact that someone's been here recently.
Then says to Soar "I wonder how deep this water is... what will your elk do from here? How long does it last for?" Nate frequently was looking at the majestic beast since Soar attached the crates to it.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Nub looks at the lizardfolk tracks to see if he can determine how many there were. He will also try and see whether there are marks that suggest that there are more canoes than the three that are currently there. Investigation: 26
Nub says "I am guessing the lizardfolk will be coming past here to collect more treasure soon. I was trying to figure out how many lizardfolk there had been here and whether they will be coming in by canoe, but honestly I've got no idea".
You know that she is the ancient enemy of Bahamut who has been banished to the Hells. Those of the faith of Bahamut are required to oppose her in all things, and do whatever is needed to prevent her escape.
Jalt relays that extra information to Soar. She has been trying to escape for eons and my people have fought against her forces for the same amount of time. She is the embodiment of evil and of everything I stand for. The mere mention of her name fuels a fire deep down in my essence.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Hoard of the Dragon Queen - Jalt Rhogar - Dragonborn Cleric (9)
"So we could either rest here overnight, though it seems an obvious place for the lizard folks to come through, if they're headed back to the strong room to look at the crates. I wonder if we'd be able to get the canoes off to the side, out of the path of anyone else following the trail, so they would come here and see the campsite with no canoes. We might be able to sleep in them, especially if we're keeping watch, which I highly suggest we do. Whoever is on watch could be mounted on my elk steed a bit closer to the campsite, or hidden on the ground. I'm a bit wary of us all sleeping in the lean-tos and waking up either with enemies nearly on top of us, or with the canoes gone. Nub, you could set up some of your alarms near the trail and the campsite, right? So we'd know if we have visitors?"
Soar will scout around a bit, and use one of her javelins to try to take some soundings to find out how deep the water is beyond the campsite, to see if the elk would be able to wade, or if it makes more sense for her to dismiss it once they move along, and move the crates to the canoes. "Nate, can you try to patch up any holes or breaks in the canoes and oars with that mending spell of yours? I wonder if we could try to find another one or cobble together a raft of some kind so we can each have one tomorrow."
She'll also look around for any flying or amphibious animals and asking through speak with animals about common predators, anything unusual/unnatural/monstrous nearby, if any people have been through here in the last day or two, and if they know if any buildings in the swamp apart from these tents. She of course also looks into the swamp with divine sense, as is her wont.
"So what's our goal here, guys? We're tracking the cult and their loot. But assuming we find the castle, and their hideout, what are we trying to do? Disrupt them? A castle with maybe a hundred people? Do we just watch and listen and then get back to our one contact to send a message? That's what Caron said but boy that seems inefficient. This is why I was frustrated with Ontharr's response. This exact moment. We're learning, and then what?" Soar's smile fades a bit as she say this, but then returns. "I know we can do it, whatever it is. I'd just like more clarity."
Soar, you spend some time looking around the area. The water gets too deep for your elk to walk, but they are quite happy to swim, even with the crates of gold.
You use speak with animals to interact with a few lizards, larger frogs and birds in the lcoal area. What you learn is that there is danger everywhere, many predators of all kinds, and most creatures keep very quiet and still in the Mere unless they have to hunt. The bird and frog both speak of creatures that are almost certainly the lizardfolk, coming up and down the same trail you have been following. The birds talks of giant spiders, giant lizards that crawl instead of walking, and little balls of light that smell of death. None are nearby, but they are never far in the Mere.
Soar relays this information to everyone. "So let's beware of any balls of light. Nate, your giant spider friends have friends here. And more giant lizards, I wasn't sure if they were in the water or out. What do you think we should do?"
No, but each canoe has three paddles and is large enough to hold up to five people if not too heavily laden. With Jalt and Soar's armour, perhaps four would be the maximum.
Nub replies to Soar "Yes, I can cast multiple alarm spells and have them cover most of this area. I think that if we are going in the canoes that we should take two of them, with our party and the crates split between them. We could then sink the third one to hopefully prevent anyone from coming up behind us."
[DM question: How long was the walk through the Mere to this point? I know we left early morning for the tunnel leading to the locked room, but I'm just trying to figure out whether it would make sense to double back and deal with the swamp-of-death during daylight hours rather than sleeping here at the edge of the water.]
In regards to Soar's other questions, Nub says "I had thought our main goal was to gather information and to assess what to do from there. Hopefully that information allows us to disrupt the cultists plans, though it will depend on whether there are a hundred people in the hidden castle or just ten lizardfolk."
If there is time, Nub is going to cast detect magic as a ritual.
It's been a full day of walking through the Mere. Eight hours plus rests here and there means you are near to sunset, and you would be walking through the night if you decide to head back to the roadhouse without sleeping.
There's no indication of magic, other than the magic items that you and the rest of the party possess.
Soar’s idea was to sleep in the canoes tied to a tree a bit apart from the campsite so it’s not obvious in case lizard folk or others come to the campsite, is that a stupid idea?
"Woah... that's a lot of money." Nate naively says as he listens to Soar and Nub discuss things.
Once the party reaches the camp and the seemingly end of the walking options, Nate sarcastically says "Such a pleasant looking campsite, wouldn't you agree?"
Nate would look inside the lean tos to see if he finds anything of interest. Once he sees the canoes, he says "I haven't paddled a canoe in a long time. Looks like we might have to if we want to get any further."
Nate takes a *gulp* but tries to hide it.
Nate, make an Investigation check.
10
The lean-tos contain a few baskets containing smoked fish along with some lizards and birds that have been smashed flat and dried in the sun. It all looks edible, but not very appetising. And it's all recent - the last couple of days.
Nate tells the others the obvious fact that someone's been here recently.
Then says to Soar "I wonder how deep this water is... what will your elk do from here? How long does it last for?" Nate frequently was looking at the majestic beast since Soar attached the crates to it.
Nub looks at the lizardfolk tracks to see if he can determine how many there were. He will also try and see whether there are marks that suggest that there are more canoes than the three that are currently there. Investigation: 26
[Nat 1 FTW!]
Nub says "I am guessing the lizardfolk will be coming past here to collect more treasure soon. I was trying to figure out how many lizardfolk there had been here and whether they will be coming in by canoe, but honestly I've got no idea".
Jalt Religion check: 12
Hoard of the Dragon Queen - Jalt Rhogar - Dragonborn Cleric (9)
"Ive heard it both ways."
You know that she is the ancient enemy of Bahamut who has been banished to the Hells. Those of the faith of Bahamut are required to oppose her in all things, and do whatever is needed to prevent her escape.
Jalt relays that extra information to Soar. She has been trying to escape for eons and my people have fought against her forces for the same amount of time. She is the embodiment of evil and of everything I stand for. The mere mention of her name fuels a fire deep down in my essence.
Hoard of the Dragon Queen - Jalt Rhogar - Dragonborn Cleric (9)
"Ive heard it both ways."
"So we could either rest here overnight, though it seems an obvious place for the lizard folks to come through, if they're headed back to the strong room to look at the crates. I wonder if we'd be able to get the canoes off to the side, out of the path of anyone else following the trail, so they would come here and see the campsite with no canoes. We might be able to sleep in them, especially if we're keeping watch, which I highly suggest we do. Whoever is on watch could be mounted on my elk steed a bit closer to the campsite, or hidden on the ground. I'm a bit wary of us all sleeping in the lean-tos and waking up either with enemies nearly on top of us, or with the canoes gone. Nub, you could set up some of your alarms near the trail and the campsite, right? So we'd know if we have visitors?"
Soar will scout around a bit, and use one of her javelins to try to take some soundings to find out how deep the water is beyond the campsite, to see if the elk would be able to wade, or if it makes more sense for her to dismiss it once they move along, and move the crates to the canoes. "Nate, can you try to patch up any holes or breaks in the canoes and oars with that mending spell of yours? I wonder if we could try to find another one or cobble together a raft of some kind so we can each have one tomorrow."
She'll also look around for any flying or amphibious animals and asking through speak with animals about common predators, anything unusual/unnatural/monstrous nearby, if any people have been through here in the last day or two, and if they know if any buildings in the swamp apart from these tents. She of course also looks into the swamp with divine sense, as is her wont.
"So what's our goal here, guys? We're tracking the cult and their loot. But assuming we find the castle, and their hideout, what are we trying to do? Disrupt them? A castle with maybe a hundred people? Do we just watch and listen and then get back to our one contact to send a message? That's what Caron said but boy that seems inefficient. This is why I was frustrated with Ontharr's response. This exact moment. We're learning, and then what?" Soar's smile fades a bit as she say this, but then returns. "I know we can do it, whatever it is. I'd just like more clarity."
Soar, you spend some time looking around the area. The water gets too deep for your elk to walk, but they are quite happy to swim, even with the crates of gold.
You use speak with animals to interact with a few lizards, larger frogs and birds in the lcoal area. What you learn is that there is danger everywhere, many predators of all kinds, and most creatures keep very quiet and still in the Mere unless they have to hunt. The bird and frog both speak of creatures that are almost certainly the lizardfolk, coming up and down the same trail you have been following. The birds talks of giant spiders, giant lizards that crawl instead of walking, and little balls of light that smell of death. None are nearby, but they are never far in the Mere.
Divine sense does not get any results.
Soar relays this information to everyone. "So let's beware of any balls of light. Nate, your giant spider friends have friends here. And more giant lizards, I wasn't sure if they were in the water or out. What do you think we should do?"
Any signs of an additional broken canoe?
No, but each canoe has three paddles and is large enough to hold up to five people if not too heavily laden. With Jalt and Soar's armour, perhaps four would be the maximum.
Nub replies to Soar "Yes, I can cast multiple alarm spells and have them cover most of this area. I think that if we are going in the canoes that we should take two of them, with our party and the crates split between them. We could then sink the third one to hopefully prevent anyone from coming up behind us."
It's close to sunset. You can push ahead in the canoes or make camp here, or go back, but if you travel, it will be in the dark.
[DM question: How long was the walk through the Mere to this point? I know we left early morning for the tunnel leading to the locked room, but I'm just trying to figure out whether it would make sense to double back and deal with the swamp-of-death during daylight hours rather than sleeping here at the edge of the water.]
In regards to Soar's other questions, Nub says "I had thought our main goal was to gather information and to assess what to do from there. Hopefully that information allows us to disrupt the cultists plans, though it will depend on whether there are a hundred people in the hidden castle or just ten lizardfolk."
If there is time, Nub is going to cast detect magic as a ritual.
It's been a full day of walking through the Mere. Eight hours plus rests here and there means you are near to sunset, and you would be walking through the night if you decide to head back to the roadhouse without sleeping.
There's no indication of magic, other than the magic items that you and the rest of the party possess.
Soar’s idea was to sleep in the canoes tied to a tree a bit apart from the campsite so it’s not obvious in case lizard folk or others come to the campsite, is that a stupid idea?
There's definitely space for you all to sleep in the canoes, just about.