Nub also retires to his room, tired and glad of a bed. I don't think we need to keep watch. There are guards in this place.
Soar, you can tell that your elk is happily roaming free outside the town, and he hasn't encountered anything he feels is a danger.
You wake in the morning, having completed a long rest. The other travellers appear to have set off before sunrise, and you are alone in the common room apart from one member of staff who you didn't see the night before, a young halfling woman who is cleaning the bar and brings you your breakfast of porridge oats and fruits.
Soar stays in bed maybe an hour past dawn and luxuriates in the concept of linens. She takes a nice bath for the first time in a while and joins the party at breakfast, eating happily and talking about nothing. Eventually she suggests they get going - the talk of cultist raids makes her unable to stay put for too long. She asks how long a walk it is to Yartar and asks if Jalt and Nub should get some horses, if any are for sale in Calling Horns. Otherwise she’s ready to get back on the road.
The bath costs an additional one silver, but the inn's staff are happy to make one up for you, and it is definitely worth the price.
The journey to Yartar will be three days on foot, two days on horseback. The halfling server lets you know that one of the other travelling groups said they had an interaction with some bandits on the road, but managed to intimidate them into leaving them alone. You can tell from the way she relates this that bandits are unusual on this road.
When you leave the inn, you do find a horse merchant who can sell you three riding horses costing 75 gold each.
Soar leaves a tip in paying for all of the above (1gp deducted) and thanks the server for the information. She gets a horse (75gp deducted), and puts Candelabra on prancing/playing/scouting duty. Ranging ahead of the party as much as a quarter mile in the forest, and longer on open stretches, keeping alert for bandits and other fun things. Telepathically telling her what's going on as he can.
She helps distribute the bags of treasure and loot from the hoard between the three horses, and talks to them, offering an apple, or carrots, or anything they might be able to purchase before leaving Calling Horns (she'll buy provisions for five days, since whatever rations she has left have gotten rather stale -- splurging on some produce if anything looks particularly good).
As they begin their journey down the road, Soar addresses the others.
"That was honestly amazing after what we've been through. A real inn. But now, more road! Setting off on another journey, with a vague destination, hints of danger on the way, and unclear instructions once we get there,"she says, smiling and taking a deep, full breath, eyes closed and basking in the sun. "My favorite thing!"Jalt knows by now that she's utterly and tragically sincere. Nub's picked this up too.
"The only thing that's missing is pretending to be someone else. Which, well, I learned a new trick, my friends. Watch!"Soar turns into, well, a spitting image of Jalt. And then Nub. And then the barkeep. And then Leosin. And then Ontharr. And then that shift gnome who tagged along with them on the caravan. And then back to herself. Using Mask of Many Faces, her new Eldritch Invocation. "This might come in handy, what do you think?"
(Has Nub been able to identify the 'magic axe, a small flat stone, a set of studded leather armour, and a pair of bracers' by now?)
A most impressive use of magic, and very useful, Nub comments. Though - I think it would be hard to behave as someone other than myself. And I do not think I could ever mistake you, whatever you look like, my friend.
Soar, please make a Perception check for Candelabra.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Candelabra is not the most perceptive chap: 16
Soar thanks Nub for the compliments. "I'd also find it hard to pretend to be someone else, but I had some practice back when Elspeth and I were traveling the countryside on our way to Greenest. I used to be able to do different voices. It'd make her laugh. Here, let me practice!"
And she spends large segments of the journey just practicing doing different voices, shifting to different characters to help sell the impressions. They start out quite bad, but she hopes they improve as time goes on.
(Soar'd be very excited about the stone! Especially since she keeps getting in the middle of the fray. But I'm sure others would also like it. Not sure if she could use the bracers at all, and the studded leather and battleaxe would both be downgrades.)
Candelabra has a fun day scouting out ahead of you and doesn't spot anything that worries him. Nub is entertained by Soar's voices, though as you are all travelling on horseback, the sound doesn't always carry all that well.
On the road, you pass by several groups of travellers and two wagons, each with a merchant returning home after selling their goods to the south or west. They don't offer much news of Yartar, except general unease at the cultist attacks, and they don't have anything to report about bandits.
You make camp at the end of the day. I'll assume the same watch order as before; please give me Perception checks.
Jalt, you are standing watch. The night is chill and dark, and the sky is cloudy - little moonlight or starlight penetrates, and you see the world in the grey shades of your darkvision. Nevertheless, your abilities mean that as a creature steps within thirty feet of your camp, you sense it... a motion. No, a footstep, and then another. Then another from a different direction. You sense now two humanoids to your north, and one to the south, slowly and quietly creeping towards you. Soar and Nub are sleeping soundly. What will you do?
The light illuminates a total of eight humanoids: half-elves and gnomes, wearing scraps of leather armour and creeping towards your camp, weapons drawn. They flinch as the light fills the space. Put your weapons down, one says. We don't want any trouble, but we're taking what we need whether you like it or not.
Soar wakes up, squinting at the light, and immediately casts Armor of Agathys on herself at second level (using a paladin slot).
(Is she sleeping in her armor? She would if she could, but not sure how we've handled this in the past. It's made well, and not too uncomfortable, and we've been warned about bandits, but I understand if it's not feasible to do so without penalty.)
She stands up, using Hazirawn as a staff and not raising it in an immediately threatening way. "What do you need? I picked up some apples in Calling Horns, and I'm feeling generous, so you can have those. And we can be friends, if what you need is apples. But if what you need is what I sincerely hope you don't pretend to need, then, well, this isn't going to end well for you. You're liable to end up hurt, or on the wrong side of a flaming wall," she says, with a significant look at Nub and his staff.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
They stop moving as Soar casts her spell, attention switching to her as the armor magically appears to cover her.
4
They seem afraid of the magic, and halt their advance. But the leader speaks up:
Apples? I don't think so. I think we'll take back some of the gold you stole, and then send you to your dragon gods. Right, everyone? The leader looks around her, but the others are slow to respond. Some nod, but others continue to stare at Soar's new magical covering.
(I think we follow RAW, in which there are no penalties for sleeping in heavy armour, but that characters don't have shields equipped when they sleep.)
“I wouldn’t be mistaken for the quickest mind in Faerun but I thiiiink you perhaps have us mistaken for someone else. I’m Soar, your friendly neighborhood Doomguide. I don’t follow a dragon god. I follow Kelemvor, the Lord of the Dead. Who actually is really friendly when you get to know him,”Soar says, eyes dancing around the group. There’s mirth on her face, an easy confidence earned by scars and stalwart friends at her back. But there’s also a deadly seriousness. The switch could flip at the drop of a hat.
“You don’t think we’re in the dragon cult do you? We are not. We have been their worst nightmare this year. We didn’t steal any gold. We brought the cultists who stole it to justice, and we are returning their plunder to those who the cult stole it from. Those we can find, at least. It would be unfortunate if you got in our way. Now, I’ve told you a lot. Probably more than I should, to folks who sneak up on strangers in the dark demanding things. So! Who are you? Where do you come from? Were you tracking us?” The half-elf blinks, still not raising the huge, brutal-looking sword. She glances down and realizes that one of the flowerbuds she’d secured along the crossbar of the sword was wilting and makes a note to fine another flowering vine, which has been getting harder as it got colder.
Jalt steps forward... the light still shining on the intruders. What I think you'll be doing, is leaving us be. Because if you try anything, it'll be my dragon god who comes down here and sends you from whence you came.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Hoard of the Dragon Queen - Jalt Rhogar - Dragonborn Cleric (9)
The people look confused, and a bit of the fight seems to be going out of them.
Listen to them, says Nub in a kind voice. We would avoid fighting you, if we can.
"Returning their plunder" one of the group, a middle-aged human male, repeats. That's jolly kind of you. I don't see you returning anything though. How many people have you returned this gold to?
The leader frowns at you. You say you're not with the dragon cult? Why should we believe you?
(I assume that Jalt doesn't actually wear the Black Dragon Mask when on watch? Or does he? Are you still wearing the armour that you had altered with Cyanwrath's colours?)
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
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Nub also retires to his room, tired and glad of a bed. I don't think we need to keep watch. There are guards in this place.
Soar, you can tell that your elk is happily roaming free outside the town, and he hasn't encountered anything he feels is a danger.
You wake in the morning, having completed a long rest. The other travellers appear to have set off before sunrise, and you are alone in the common room apart from one member of staff who you didn't see the night before, a young halfling woman who is cleaning the bar and brings you your breakfast of porridge oats and fruits.
Soar stays in bed maybe an hour past dawn and luxuriates in the concept of linens. She takes a nice bath for the first time in a while and joins the party at breakfast, eating happily and talking about nothing. Eventually she suggests they get going - the talk of cultist raids makes her unable to stay put for too long. She asks how long a walk it is to Yartar and asks if Jalt and Nub should get some horses, if any are for sale in Calling Horns. Otherwise she’s ready to get back on the road.
The bath costs an additional one silver, but the inn's staff are happy to make one up for you, and it is definitely worth the price.
The journey to Yartar will be three days on foot, two days on horseback. The halfling server lets you know that one of the other travelling groups said they had an interaction with some bandits on the road, but managed to intimidate them into leaving them alone. You can tell from the way she relates this that bandits are unusual on this road.
When you leave the inn, you do find a horse merchant who can sell you three riding horses costing 75 gold each.
Jalt will take the heftiest horse they have
Hoard of the Dragon Queen - Jalt Rhogar - Dragonborn Cleric (9)
"Ive heard it both ways."
Soar leaves a tip in paying for all of the above (1gp deducted) and thanks the server for the information. She gets a horse (75gp deducted), and puts Candelabra on prancing/playing/scouting duty. Ranging ahead of the party as much as a quarter mile in the forest, and longer on open stretches, keeping alert for bandits and other fun things. Telepathically telling her what's going on as he can.
She helps distribute the bags of treasure and loot from the hoard between the three horses, and talks to them, offering an apple, or carrots, or anything they might be able to purchase before leaving Calling Horns (she'll buy provisions for five days, since whatever rations she has left have gotten rather stale -- splurging on some produce if anything looks particularly good).
As they begin their journey down the road, Soar addresses the others.
"That was honestly amazing after what we've been through. A real inn. But now, more road! Setting off on another journey, with a vague destination, hints of danger on the way, and unclear instructions once we get there," she says, smiling and taking a deep, full breath, eyes closed and basking in the sun. "My favorite thing!" Jalt knows by now that she's utterly and tragically sincere. Nub's picked this up too.
"The only thing that's missing is pretending to be someone else. Which, well, I learned a new trick, my friends. Watch!" Soar turns into, well, a spitting image of Jalt. And then Nub. And then the barkeep. And then Leosin. And then Ontharr. And then that shift gnome who tagged along with them on the caravan. And then back to herself. Using Mask of Many Faces, her new Eldritch Invocation. "This might come in handy, what do you think?"
(Has Nub been able to identify the 'magic axe, a small flat stone, a set of studded leather armour, and a pair of bracers' by now?)
Nub has identified them as a Battleaxe, +1, an Ioun Stone of Fortitude, a set of Studded Leather, +1 and pair of Bracers of Defense.
A most impressive use of magic, and very useful, Nub comments. Though - I think it would be hard to behave as someone other than myself. And I do not think I could ever mistake you, whatever you look like, my friend.
Soar, please make a Perception check for Candelabra.
Candelabra is not the most perceptive chap: 16
Soar thanks Nub for the compliments. "I'd also find it hard to pretend to be someone else, but I had some practice back when Elspeth and I were traveling the countryside on our way to Greenest. I used to be able to do different voices. It'd make her laugh. Here, let me practice!"
And she spends large segments of the journey just practicing doing different voices, shifting to different characters to help sell the impressions. They start out quite bad, but she hopes they improve as time goes on.
(Soar'd be very excited about the stone! Especially since she keeps getting in the middle of the fray. But I'm sure others would also like it. Not sure if she could use the bracers at all, and the studded leather and battleaxe would both be downgrades.)
18
Candelabra has a fun day scouting out ahead of you and doesn't spot anything that worries him. Nub is entertained by Soar's voices, though as you are all travelling on horseback, the sound doesn't always carry all that well.
On the road, you pass by several groups of travellers and two wagons, each with a merchant returning home after selling their goods to the south or west. They don't offer much news of Yartar, except general unease at the cultist attacks, and they don't have anything to report about bandits.
You make camp at the end of the day. I'll assume the same watch order as before; please give me Perception checks.
Nub Perception 18
Jalt perception: 8
(Have also subtracted the money for the inn and horse from inventory)
Hoard of the Dragon Queen - Jalt Rhogar - Dragonborn Cleric (9)
"Ive heard it both ways."
Soar perception: 18
4 2
Jalt, you are standing watch. The night is chill and dark, and the sky is cloudy - little moonlight or starlight penetrates, and you see the world in the grey shades of your darkvision. Nevertheless, your abilities mean that as a creature steps within thirty feet of your camp, you sense it... a motion. No, a footstep, and then another. Then another from a different direction. You sense now two humanoids to your north, and one to the south, slowly and quietly creeping towards you. Soar and Nub are sleeping soundly. What will you do?
Jalt holds on to his shield and casts Light on it. He backs up and directs it so that the light radius shines in both directions.
Hoard of the Dragon Queen - Jalt Rhogar - Dragonborn Cleric (9)
"Ive heard it both ways."
The light illuminates a total of eight humanoids: half-elves and gnomes, wearing scraps of leather armour and creeping towards your camp, weapons drawn. They flinch as the light fills the space. Put your weapons down, one says. We don't want any trouble, but we're taking what we need whether you like it or not.
The light wakes Nub and Soar from their sleep.
Soar wakes up, squinting at the light, and immediately casts Armor of Agathys on herself at second level (using a paladin slot).
(Is she sleeping in her armor? She would if she could, but not sure how we've handled this in the past. It's made well, and not too uncomfortable, and we've been warned about bandits, but I understand if it's not feasible to do so without penalty.)
She stands up, using Hazirawn as a staff and not raising it in an immediately threatening way. "What do you need? I picked up some apples in Calling Horns, and I'm feeling generous, so you can have those. And we can be friends, if what you need is apples. But if what you need is what I sincerely hope you don't pretend to need, then, well, this isn't going to end well for you. You're liable to end up hurt, or on the wrong side of a flaming wall," she says, with a significant look at Nub and his staff.
Intimidation: 5
They stop moving as Soar casts her spell, attention switching to her as the armor magically appears to cover her.
4
They seem afraid of the magic, and halt their advance. But the leader speaks up:
Apples? I don't think so. I think we'll take back some of the gold you stole, and then send you to your dragon gods. Right, everyone? The leader looks around her, but the others are slow to respond. Some nod, but others continue to stare at Soar's new magical covering.
(I think we follow RAW, in which there are no penalties for sleeping in heavy armour, but that characters don't have shields equipped when they sleep.)
“I wouldn’t be mistaken for the quickest mind in Faerun but I thiiiink you perhaps have us mistaken for someone else. I’m Soar, your friendly neighborhood Doomguide. I don’t follow a dragon god. I follow Kelemvor, the Lord of the Dead. Who actually is really friendly when you get to know him,” Soar says, eyes dancing around the group. There’s mirth on her face, an easy confidence earned by scars and stalwart friends at her back. But there’s also a deadly seriousness. The switch could flip at the drop of a hat.
“You don’t think we’re in the dragon cult do you? We are not. We have been their worst nightmare this year. We didn’t steal any gold. We brought the cultists who stole it to justice, and we are returning their plunder to those who the cult stole it from. Those we can find, at least. It would be unfortunate if you got in our way. Now, I’ve told you a lot. Probably more than I should, to folks who sneak up on strangers in the dark demanding things. So! Who are you? Where do you come from? Were you tracking us?” The half-elf blinks, still not raising the huge, brutal-looking sword. She glances down and realizes that one of the flowerbuds she’d secured along the crossbar of the sword was wilting and makes a note to fine another flowering vine, which has been getting harder as it got colder.
Jalt steps forward... the light still shining on the intruders. What I think you'll be doing, is leaving us be. Because if you try anything, it'll be my dragon god who comes down here and sends you from whence you came.
Hoard of the Dragon Queen - Jalt Rhogar - Dragonborn Cleric (9)
"Ive heard it both ways."
Soar leans forward and in a dramatic stage whisper says, "his dragon god haaaaaa-aaaaates Tiamat, if you needed a clue there."
The people look confused, and a bit of the fight seems to be going out of them.
Listen to them, says Nub in a kind voice. We would avoid fighting you, if we can.
"Returning their plunder" one of the group, a middle-aged human male, repeats. That's jolly kind of you. I don't see you returning anything though. How many people have you returned this gold to?
The leader frowns at you. You say you're not with the dragon cult? Why should we believe you?
(I assume that Jalt doesn't actually wear the Black Dragon Mask when on watch? Or does he? Are you still wearing the armour that you had altered with Cyanwrath's colours?)