The bandit blinks.

"Uh.  We were told to camp here.  I don't know nothin' about any Stormwind or Silver Watchtower.  As to getting in . . ."

He pauses and thinks for a moment.

"Tell ya what.  I obviously got mixed up in something I don't want to be in, what with you mentioning cults and Stormwinds and whatnot.  What d'ya say I take you to the Keep?  Can try to get you in saying you're new recruits, although I might get some questions about where the rest of my group is.  If not, well, the front gate's well guarded, as is the water gate.  Can't see you having much luck just charging straight in.  Or just ask the guards about recruitment without me, that might actually seem less suspicious.  Up t'you."

"Are they often recruiting?"  Rubin asks from his position keeping watch.

The bandit shrugs.  "Always, I think."

Tyde looks to Kethra, "What do you think? Should we try and sneak in as recruits or maybe sneak in some other way? It might be worth trying to keep our true intentions secret from them."

Looking back at their prisoner, "And what should we do with him?"

The bandit shrugs again.  "If you’re worried about me warning them, I won’t.  My head is worth more than whatever they’d pay me, and if they’re mixed up in a cult I’d get out at the first opportunity anyways.  If you let me go I’d hoof it in the opposite direction and never look back."

(Sorry, was there a wait for me? My life got kind of hectic, sorry sorry so much!)

Kethra grip tightens momentarily, backs off, then knocks him out with the butt end of her sword.

Quote from Brian_Avery >>

Tyde looks to Kethra, "What do you think? Should we try and sneak in as recruits or maybe sneak in some other way? It might be worth trying to keep our true intentions secret from them."

Looking back at their prisoner, "And what should we do with him?"

Stabbing her bloodied sword into the ground beside her, Kethra immediately sits cross-legged in front of the bandit and looks at him intently, thinking about what he said.

Insight, to tell if he's planning to stab us in the back if we cooperate: 16

"Sorry for the little outburst, but I need a moment."

If Kethra trusts the bandit,

 If Kethra doesn't trust the bandit,

After that, Kethra will go back to sitting on the ground, gently tugging on Jairus' leg as he passes by, "I went against what you said. I wasn't very..heroic. But as soon as I heard 'Jolliver Grimjaw' my ears got so hot and I suddenly remember everything I felt....those *&%$% who left my Master for dead...laughing as they took off!"

"I'm..I'm sorry."

(Edit: I hope I didn't roll another nat 20 on a skill check that wasn't needed! Cuz this would be like, the 3rd time in this campaign TT)

Kethra, you're pretty sure this bandit just wants to GTFO.

He sighs in relief.

"Thank ye, miss.  I won't get under yer hair."

Tyde nods in approval of Kethra's actions. "Anyone can gain the strength to swing a sword but as the seasons pass and years gather in numbers you'll find it takes even greater strength to not swing a sword."

Tyde then checks his gear and makes sure he ready for when they continue their trek to Rivergard Keep.

Kethra nods in relief to Mr. Tyde's sagely advice.

Quote from LordShadowthorn >>

Kethra, you're pretty sure this bandit just wants to GTFO.

He sighs in relief.

"Thank ye, miss.  I won't get under yer hair."

"Wait. I was just proposing an idea to my companions." She sits him back down and starts asking him questions, slowly and one by one. "You still haven't answered why you pulled swords on us on sight. Were you expecting trouble? The monsters those two make their weapons from (reavers), are they nearby? What city did you come from? And tell me the name of one of your friends...the priest looking man, so we can let them know if they ask who sent us."

"And since we're letting you live, you have to give us something in return," the white haired girl briefly looks to the side and back, "What's your best fish recipe?"

The bandit blinks in confusion.

"I dunno, they all started drawing weapons so I did too.  No clue what his name was, everyone just called him sir."  He pauses in confusion once more, scratching his beard.  "My best . . .huh?  Who needs a recipe for cooking fish?  Stick it on a stick and put it over the fire till it’s not raw anymore, that’s good enough for me."

Rubin checks his gear, ready to move out when the others are.

(Assuming you all carry on to Rivergard Keep)

Not much longer after you find the bandit camp, you come into sight of Rivergard Keep.

A small castle overlooks the mighty Dessarin River, which is a good half-mile wide at this point. A gatehouse and keep stand atop a low bluff, but the walls are built to the water’s edge. On the river bank, another low tower guards a boat basin where keelboats are moored.

The keep seems old and worn, but new timbers and shingles suggest that repairs are underway. A white banner with a blue gauntlet flies over the keep.

The front gate is closed.

(How are you approaching?  You can see several guards pacing the walls.)

"How we going fer this, gang?  We gonna play green recruits, or maybe have some of us sneakier types creep up and take out those sentries?" Jairus asks.  

Mid way on their journey to the keep Wolf-Davian returns to human form. "I could get used to travelling on four feet. It's much easier on the body. Amazing animals..." He prattles on about his experience as a wolf for a little while longer, more to himself than anyone in particular. 

At Jairus' question he replies with "I am more than happy to change into another form, but I fear it may be a waste if all I am is a rat or mouse. I am no sneak in my normal state, but I can play a green recruit quite easy" The last said with a coy smile.

“Zhents used to say I had one of the worst poker faces they’d ever seen,” Jairus says, looking nervous. “Bluffing ain’t my speciality. I probably look the part, that goes a ways, so maybe I just stand around lookin’ like a guy who’s tryin’ to look tough. Which should be easy, as that does sorta describe me most of the time.” He smiles crookedly at the self aware reflection. 

(Mind if I rewind a bit?)

Quote from LordShadowthorn >>

The bandit blinks in confusion.

"I dunno, they all started drawing weapons so I did too.  No clue what his name was, everyone just called him sir."  He pauses in confusion once more, scratching his beard.  "My best . . .huh?  Who needs a recipe for cooking fish?  Stick it on a stick and put it over the fire till it’s not raw anymore, that’s good enough for me."

The bandit's captor would narrow her eyes at his unhelpful response. "Okay, then what's your name and where are you from?"

Despite his answer, Kethra will let him go, then ask the party for help with burying the bodies. Or if we're not too close to the keep, breaking the wooden boxes and using it as fuel for a pyre? (I don't know what you guys would be okay with.)

"We need to remember our ultimate goal: to investigate what happened to the missing delegates. I'm really taking Mr. Tyde's words to heart...we should avoid 'swinging swords' if we don't have to, but the only way we're going to do that is to out think them...or out move them! So...that means we'll NEED every single animal shape and wizard magic we can, right? Let's take a short rest before we get to the Keep."

She nods at Davian and Mr. Tyde, then starts handing out some of the bandits' smoked fish to the rest of the party.

"Rubin, Davian, I appreciate your idea to sneak in as recruits. But before we go and say hi, is it fine if we wait until nightfall, then ask you boys to take a walk around the Keep?"

• "Make a rough count of how many guards there are."
• "Find if they're redirecting river water inside the keep, so we can have an escape route that doesn't leave footprints."
• "If that doesn't work out, could you check for any unguarded places you can sneak through as a small animal and let a rope down from, Davian?"
• "Lastly, listen if they have any horses."

"If they find you...um, how about hooting like an owl three times?"

Quote from LordShadowthorn >>

The keep seems old and worn, but new timbers and shingles suggest that repairs are underway. A white banner with a blue gauntlet flies over the keep.

Upon getting to the keep, Kethra would shade her eyes to take a look at the flag. "That...doesn't look like any of the cult symbols we saw earlier...but I suppose they were pretty secretive about it before. So let's wait until nightfall and add one more thing to look for:"

• "Find the main support beam(s) that bears the most weight. It'll be a great distraction...or if we need to thin their numbers."

Quote from konpk>>

"Find the main support beam(s) that bears the most weight. It'll be a great distraction...or if we need to thin their numbers."

 (It's a large castle.  There's not going to be a main support beam.)

The bandit shrugs.  "Fair enough.  My name's Jeb Willowsplitter, I'm from around here.  Womford."

"Lighting a pyre is quicker and it leaves little to return from  the dead." Tyde helps gather wood for the blaze.

"A short rest to regroup before gathering some reconnaissance sounds good. If we have more of a complete picture of their numbers and defenses then that could only help with any other plans we make."

Jairus agrees, and seems more comfortable with scouting the place out then the infiltration plan, as the former is more comfortably within his skill set.  "I think it's a great idea, better know what we're getting into."  If possible Jairus will call on his Outlander background, much time spent in the wilds, and survey the natural surroundings of the keep, and will attempt to cobble together some camouflage that might help their scouts, himself included, better blend in with the surroundings.  

OOC: Let me know if this has any mechanical effect, being camouflaged could help scouts blend in and offer advantage to Stealth checks, otherwise it could just be window dressing.  If a Survival roll is needed to create proper camouflage it is:

9

Jairus tries to gather some camouflage for himself, but ends up just getting his clothes muddy.