"What brought me here..." She says more as a comment than a question. "Well, I am here due to cult of the dragon activity of course." She shrugs. "Those wagons have some items stolen from elsewhere in them, and are transporting the items somewhere. I mean to find out where it is all being sent to, and learning what I can of why these dragon cultists are going through with all of this trouble." She looks to the group. "Now your turn..."
Naroth looks around the group and then speaks up, "Well we have encountered the cult before as we came to the rescue of a town that was being ransacked by them. We then followed the retreating army and came about their camp where we had a little bit of fun in. We reported back to the town what was going on and upon our return to the army camp it was gone. We then discovered a cave nearby that the cult was using and destroyed some members of the cult that were left or stayed behind and came across some dragons eggs we destroyed."
Pausing for a moment to recollect his thoughts in his mind he then continues, "We then decided to investigate this cult more and joined this caravan as guards to travel north where we had heard there was more cult activity. That pretty much sums up our adventure to this point." As he looks around the group for confirmation of what he said.
Gleamsilver nods to Naroth. "Sounds like you guys are hip-deep in this for sure." She says with a sigh. Her eyes narrow a bit though. "What about these cultists you slew at those caves? Anything specific about them?"
"Not that I know of, they were mainly thugs, but one of them was a priest or magic user." Then a bit sarcastically, "We did not really take the time to ask them questions during combat."
"Pity you didn't." Gleamsilver says with a more stern look to Naroth. "Can you tell me anything about them, markings, tattoos, anything specific that set them apart? Anyone else that comes to mind when you were there? What color were those eggs you found?"
She is getting a bit more pushy, so we can end this if you are not wishing to answer anything more.
Taviel did not like that conversation to begin with, but she could not exactly stop Naroth from telling everything and just patiently waited for him to finally stop sharing every small bit of information he remembered, after all, maybe his branch of Harpers operated that way. "And while we are on your plan, what did you learn about the cultists so far?"
Gleamsilver nods to Naroth, then to Taviel. "My plan is to watch and wait." She says, getting to her feet. "I would suggest you watch your food, as the cult seems to know who you are allied with here, and that you are more than you appear." She gives them all a mocking smile, then strides away from the three of you.
Anything you wish to discuss, or do, prior to me moving this onward?
Ulric watches Gleamsilver leave before speaking, "While I do not know we can trust her, I suspect she does have the same goal we do. Should we openly confront the cult, she's likely to involve herself if she thinks she can win, but she won't jump into a foolish and lost attack. I am not one for waiting for the next attack against us, however without convincing the caravan master, I'm not sure it's wise to attack the cult now. What say you?"
"I say we learned nothing and spilled private information to a stranger. We can consider it payment for the useful warning and move one. We never planned to attack the cult in the caravan, anyway." Taviel returned to her guarding duties.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Naroth disregards the words from Taviel, "I am getting tired of waiting to attack these heathens and if someone is potentially going to help and I trust them, then I will work with them. Sitting around and waiting playing guard is starting to get on my nerves. Especially since I have almost been killed twice and have done nothing in response."
Naroth also returns to his wards wagon and checks it to make sure no one has tampered with it while he was gone.
Toc uses message spells to get an update from the group. Then messages Naroth, and the others several times to facilitate a silent conversation, "This cult is bigger than this one treasure run. Remember, they somehow gathered an entire army that now has been disbanded to the wind. The leaders are still at large somewhere. And they successfully nabbed that mask, in a pretty remarkable show of force. We need to know where they're operating out of. Killing these individuals won't do us any good, except make us feel better. But also them being suspicious of us and trying to kill us isn't getting us anywhere. If they know we're onto them they're just going to plan around us and up and vanish on us. We need to adjust our plan. Leave the caravan perhaps and track them from afar. Perhaps via a familiar? Or, maybe someone goes ahead to Waterdeep and tries to buy some sort of magical tracker we can leave on their wagon before pretending to leave. Either way, I think just hanging out as guards just makes us an obvious target and doesn't do us any good."
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
What's the difference between a Wizard and a Sorcerer? Class.
Germain mostly agrees with Toc, "Attacking them, even killing them all, does nothing for the mission. But, while staying with the caravan makes us a target, it also offers us some protections that we would lose should we break away. If they truly want to kill us, splitting off will only make us more of a target and allow them free reign to send more direct forces to attempt to ambush us. But I think Waterdeep should be the end of this particular charade and give us an opportunity to lose them while we gather more information about them and maintain our vigil."
"You are right, our order was to follow their wagon to the source, not to fight them, not to stop them. Nothing changed here. I do not know why they are trying to kill us specifically and not other guards. But there is still a chance it's not because they know who we are but to get rid of the most efficient guards and take the whole caravan at the end of the road. Would love to watch them from afar! But staying seems safer for mission for many reasons."
Naroth grumbles and then softly swears mentally responding to the message, "Fine, you are all correct, our mission is to gather information, looks like we wait and see what happens when we reach Waterdeep."
Toc continues spending his evening and mornings with his spider familiar crawling around the camp and watching for trouble....trying to catch a view of when these cultists get up to their murderous attempts. Otherwise, he continues to play his role of 'guy traveling to Waterdeep', even though he's sure the gig is up. He's especially watching for the cultists to try and sneak away in the night...and watching to see if they don't setup tents like normal one night, or other possible signs.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
What's the difference between a Wizard and a Sorcerer? Class.
Things continue normally that evening, the next morning, and throughout the majority of that next day. Nothing stands out as different, just more of the sameness you have begun to get use to on this long trip.
During your trip so far you would have all gotten to know of Bran Holdgate. He is a noble out of Waterdeep, and is well-known for how he mistreats his horses. He allows their collars and girths to chafe sores in their hide, skimps on their feed, and whips them when the aching, hungry animals don’t pull hard enough or fast enough to suit him. You would have noticed the animals getting worse and worse, though they were prime stock when you left on this journey 35 days ago. Several times he has been heard asking about purchasing other animals, from others on the caravan, but has not found anyone willing to sell.
He travels with a knight and mage as his bodyguards. They have always set up camp near their own wagon, and have not even attempted to be socialable. If anyone came to their tent they would be asked to leave by the bodyguard, and, if needed, forcefully removed from the area near that tent.
Towards the end of the day a comotion gains the attention of the entire caravan. Bran, who usually has his wagon near the front, so as not to have to breathe the dust of the rest of the caravan, has stopped his wagon. He is on the ground, kicking and brutally beating one of his horses. Everyone can hear his curses, quite the vocabulary for a noble, and hear the terrified screams of the horse.
"What brought me here..." She says more as a comment than a question. "Well, I am here due to cult of the dragon activity of course." She shrugs. "Those wagons have some items stolen from elsewhere in them, and are transporting the items somewhere. I mean to find out where it is all being sent to, and learning what I can of why these dragon cultists are going through with all of this trouble." She looks to the group. "Now your turn..."
(Any results from this?)
Naroth looks around the group and then speaks up, "Well we have encountered the cult before as we came to the rescue of a town that was being ransacked by them. We then followed the retreating army and came about their camp where we had a little bit of fun in. We reported back to the town what was going on and upon our return to the army camp it was gone. We then discovered a cave nearby that the cult was using and destroyed some members of the cult that were left or stayed behind and came across some dragons eggs we destroyed."
Pausing for a moment to recollect his thoughts in his mind he then continues, "We then decided to investigate this cult more and joined this caravan as guards to travel north where we had heard there was more cult activity. That pretty much sums up our adventure to this point." As he looks around the group for confirmation of what he said.
Gleamsilver nods to Naroth. "Sounds like you guys are hip-deep in this for sure." She says with a sigh. Her eyes narrow a bit though. "What about these cultists you slew at those caves? Anything specific about them?"
"Not that I know of, they were mainly thugs, but one of them was a priest or magic user." Then a bit sarcastically, "We did not really take the time to ask them questions during combat."
"Pity you didn't." Gleamsilver says with a more stern look to Naroth. "Can you tell me anything about them, markings, tattoos, anything specific that set them apart? Anyone else that comes to mind when you were there? What color were those eggs you found?"
She is getting a bit more pushy, so we can end this if you are not wishing to answer anything more.
With a sternness to his voice, "I think we have shared enough information between us to trust each other. What is your plan?"
Taviel did not like that conversation to begin with, but she could not exactly stop Naroth from telling everything and just patiently waited for him to finally stop sharing every small bit of information he remembered, after all, maybe his branch of Harpers operated that way. "And while we are on your plan, what did you learn about the cultists so far?"
Meili Liang Lvl 5 Monk
Dice
Gleamsilver nods to Naroth, then to Taviel. "My plan is to watch and wait." She says, getting to her feet. "I would suggest you watch your food, as the cult seems to know who you are allied with here, and that you are more than you appear." She gives them all a mocking smile, then strides away from the three of you.
Anything you wish to discuss, or do, prior to me moving this onward?
Ulric watches Gleamsilver leave before speaking, "While I do not know we can trust her, I suspect she does have the same goal we do. Should we openly confront the cult, she's likely to involve herself if she thinks she can win, but she won't jump into a foolish and lost attack. I am not one for waiting for the next attack against us, however without convincing the caravan master, I'm not sure it's wise to attack the cult now. What say you?"
"I say we learned nothing and spilled private information to a stranger. We can consider it payment for the useful warning and move one. We never planned to attack the cult in the caravan, anyway." Taviel returned to her guarding duties.
Meili Liang Lvl 5 Monk
Dice
Naroth disregards the words from Taviel, "I am getting tired of waiting to attack these heathens and if someone is potentially going to help and I trust them, then I will work with them. Sitting around and waiting playing guard is starting to get on my nerves. Especially since I have almost been killed twice and have done nothing in response."
Naroth also returns to his wards wagon and checks it to make sure no one has tampered with it while he was gone.
Perception: 15
Investigation: 17
Toc uses message spells to get an update from the group. Then messages Naroth, and the others several times to facilitate a silent conversation, "This cult is bigger than this one treasure run. Remember, they somehow gathered an entire army that now has been disbanded to the wind. The leaders are still at large somewhere. And they successfully nabbed that mask, in a pretty remarkable show of force. We need to know where they're operating out of. Killing these individuals won't do us any good, except make us feel better. But also them being suspicious of us and trying to kill us isn't getting us anywhere. If they know we're onto them they're just going to plan around us and up and vanish on us. We need to adjust our plan. Leave the caravan perhaps and track them from afar. Perhaps via a familiar? Or, maybe someone goes ahead to Waterdeep and tries to buy some sort of magical tracker we can leave on their wagon before pretending to leave. Either way, I think just hanging out as guards just makes us an obvious target and doesn't do us any good."
What's the difference between a Wizard and a Sorcerer?
Class.
Germain mostly agrees with Toc, "Attacking them, even killing them all, does nothing for the mission. But, while staying with the caravan makes us a target, it also offers us some protections that we would lose should we break away. If they truly want to kill us, splitting off will only make us more of a target and allow them free reign to send more direct forces to attempt to ambush us. But I think Waterdeep should be the end of this particular charade and give us an opportunity to lose them while we gather more information about them and maintain our vigil."
"You are right, our order was to follow their wagon to the source, not to fight them, not to stop them. Nothing changed here. I do not know why they are trying to kill us specifically and not other guards. But there is still a chance it's not because they know who we are but to get rid of the most efficient guards and take the whole caravan at the end of the road. Would love to watch them from afar! But staying seems safer for mission for many reasons."
Meili Liang Lvl 5 Monk
Dice
Naroth grumbles and then softly swears mentally responding to the message, "Fine, you are all correct, our mission is to gather information, looks like we wait and see what happens when we reach Waterdeep."
Ulric shows clear displeasure across his face, but nods in agreement.
"Killing this group won't get us any closer to the larger nest. We must be cautious."
Toc continues spending his evening and mornings with his spider familiar crawling around the camp and watching for trouble....trying to catch a view of when these cultists get up to their murderous attempts. Otherwise, he continues to play his role of 'guy traveling to Waterdeep', even though he's sure the gig is up. He's especially watching for the cultists to try and sneak away in the night...and watching to see if they don't setup tents like normal one night, or other possible signs.
What's the difference between a Wizard and a Sorcerer?
Class.
Things continue normally that evening, the next morning, and throughout the majority of that next day. Nothing stands out as different, just more of the sameness you have begun to get use to on this long trip.
During your trip so far you would have all gotten to know of Bran Holdgate. He is a noble out of Waterdeep, and is well-known for how he mistreats his horses. He allows their collars and girths to chafe sores in their hide, skimps on their feed, and whips them when the aching, hungry animals don’t pull hard enough or fast enough to suit him. You would have noticed the animals getting worse and worse, though they were prime stock when you left on this journey 35 days ago. Several times he has been heard asking about purchasing other animals, from others on the caravan, but has not found anyone willing to sell.
He travels with a knight and mage as his bodyguards. They have always set up camp near their own wagon, and have not even attempted to be socialable. If anyone came to their tent they would be asked to leave by the bodyguard, and, if needed, forcefully removed from the area near that tent.
Towards the end of the day a comotion gains the attention of the entire caravan. Bran, who usually has his wagon near the front, so as not to have to breathe the dust of the rest of the caravan, has stopped his wagon. He is on the ground, kicking and brutally beating one of his horses. Everyone can hear his curses, quite the vocabulary for a noble, and hear the terrified screams of the horse.
Germain will allow others to deal with the fool while he keeps a careful eye on the cultists in case they try to take advantage of the distraction.
Perception: 18