Quivering Corruption (DM Lerus)

"Not a lot of choices once we are in their garrison." Neya says. "All we can hope for is no one would recognize us in a way that would cause them to take immediate action."

While resting, the group continues to plan and recover. After Utar goes through their best two options, the group seems to lean toward the "fake prisoner" plan. Graxx volunteers to be one of the prisoners, but Neya worries that their ruse will last only for so long.

• Rhonda heals for 24 HP.
• Graxx heals for 33 HP.

Being thorough and thinking it worth considering the "hide in the cart" plan a bit longer, Villonah reminds the group that they have 4 cloaks and 5 tall humanoids in total. She ponders: "Is it worth taking the risk of having one of Rhonda or Yalek go in without cloaks? If anything, maybe the guards will recognize their face and let them through anyway."

Yalek responds: "Risky, but it could work... maybe. This idea does allow the tallest three of you to wear a cloak, as well as me. Rhonda can go without one for all I care."

Rhonda does not argue, likely due to fear of the reactions it might cause, but she asks: "And the others would hide in the cart?"

(OOC: I'm waiting to post about the rolls for the other teams until everyone has had a chance to read and agree to the caveats posted in our OOC chat. Let me know what you guys think.)

Despite Graxx' assurances Doozey continued to eyeball with an ongoing degree of wariness for Rhonda. However, seeing noone else at least visibly object to her playing some more direct part of the plan, the stoutling stayed quietly, and refocused some attention back on the meeting itself. An ever vigilant Taters would continue to keep a close eye, regardless.

"The Horn aught to be a priority to one extent or another. It will be difficult enough as it is dealing with the cult without that thing literally breathing hell upon us. For I doubt it cares -that- much for her subject. At least not enough to keep from sacrificing a hand full that aren't either Ixas or that hobgoblin warlord." He expressed as much. "But I do agree. Though, now I'm kicking myself for not purchasing more alchemist fire for just the occasion. With Villies help, I might've been able to rig something to trigger the moment they tried using them."  Doozey sighed and begun rubbing the back of his neck.

When Rhonda later request to bury her friends, Doozey takes one look at the closest one by convenience, and then looks back to her. "Firstly, They'll get no more deader than they already are. And with the forest corrupted as it is, we'd be better off burning them, least they perhaps rise again as something as twisted as jolly green giant we ran into on the way to your lot." He said in a matter of fact tone. "But if you insist and happen to have shovel on hand." Doozey hops off the log, and takes out the crossbow. It isn't leveled immediately on anyone. But by his bearing, it looked as if he planned to keep a closer eye on her, having half-expected the burial to take at least loosely out of sight.

"As fer the whole have some hiding in the cart, I imagine that'll be me and Villie when it comes to it. Perhaps we might even do the whole two 'alflings in a trench cloak plan like my cousins used to do?" He looks to Villonah to gauge her reaction. Good or bad, he would ultimately just shrug and say, "But a thought."

Graxx ponders on Doozey's statement.

"If Doozey and Villie stay in the cart hidden.  Maybe we can draw enough attention on us to where they won't notice you slip out."

Graxx then looks to Villie.

"While we're drawing the attention and fighting the hordes maybe you all can make it to the horn."

"That brings up an important question, where is the horn?" Neya wonders. "Depending on which faction has it, it may be easier or harder to access."

"Rhonda, did you see anything like that in Ixas' quarters?"

Rhonda and Yalek look at each other and shrug. The half-orc says: "A horn that calls the dragon. That's the first we hear of it."

Then, with Doozey looking over her, Rhonda gets a shovel from the wagon and begins digging shallow graves some yards away from the path. At some point during this task, she asks: "If I'm to fight, I'll need to gather my weapons once I'm done here?"

After releasing a "Pfft" from her lips in response to the trench-coat idea, Villonah selects one of the grain barrels loaded on the cart and begins emptying it: "I'll hide in here."

MESSAGE INTERLUDE - FEY LORD TEAM 

Please pick two of the rolls below for you to roll on behalf of your NPC character. Make sure to account for Buhrell Caah's two rolls as well, as she is part of the team and I'll be rolling for her.

• Medicine check {DC 10} 
• History check {DC 10} 
• History check {DC 15} 
• Arcana check {DC 15} 
• Nature check {DC 15} 
• Plot roll d12 

• History check {DC 15} 
• Nature check {DC 15}
• Arcana check {DC 10} 
• Plot roll d12 

Details can be found in the OOC Chat and in the Campaign page. Feel free to name/use spells or character features that you think would be useful for these rolls.

A straightforward task seems like a welcome diversion to his current struggles around how to work out how to get into and then out of the cult hideout while remaining alive, Utar sighs before getting up to help Rhonda dig.

Dornal History Rolls

History DC 15:  22

History DC 15:   8

Doozey shrugged and simply gestured over to an approaching Utar. "Up to him and the others, but I imagine so. Would be kind of hard to fight as you are. Lucky you that it was you and not your fist slinging friend." She said, before a thought than occurs to Doozey. "Oi! Neya.There other woman wouldn't happen to be of kin of yours, ya? The one that knocked ya for a loop before, I be meaning." He called back to the monk.

Senetir:
Medicine (DC 10): 12.
Arcana (DC 15): 21.

Respiding to Doozey's comment, Neya says, "I don't think so. Her style was markedly different. She wasn't using the shadows as I was, and she seemed more keen on striking pressure points."

Zern rolls:

Using 2nd level bless for each check, sharing with Buhrell.

History [DC10]: 11 Bless: 2

Arcana [DC10]: 8 Bless: 3

(Got confused about Bless, ignore those rolls)

After hearing Doozey's response to her question, Rhonda looks at an approaching Utar and observes as he grabs a second shovel to help her. She waits a few minutes, letting the cleric get into groove of digging graves and then repeats her question: "Will I be able to fight with my weapons? I won't be of much help if all I am allowed to wield is a shovel."

As Taters make sure Rhonda is not up to anything funny, Doozey and Neya talk briefly about the possibility of the raven-haired girl being a Silent Wood trainee. Neya saw nothing that would make her believe that was the case. 

(OOC: I'll wait until I have all of this round's rolls to start delivering the Fey Lord team's messages. It looks like Buhrell Caah will be rolling the two d12 plot rolls, right?)

Wiping the sweat from his brow and taking a short break, Utar nods approval to Rhonda.

"Won't ask you to go in there without a weapon, wouldn't be right. Do you want to say anything... When we're finished?"

Seranolla's checks:

Nature 1 -24

Nature 2 -13

Buhrell Caah’s plot rolls:

-> 1st d12: 3

-> 2nd d12: 8

Dornal is empowered by Skill Empowerment.

Senitir indeeds sees to Dornal's Skill Empowerment well being at some point.

Meanwhile, realizing Utar had Rhonda covered for the time being, Taters is left again to keep watch while Doozey went to the wagon to finally get around to some vague searching for a good hiding spot. If Villonah is still hanging around getting anything extra in order, he'll plainly ask, "I just remembered something else as well. Not directly related to the mission itself, but there's these special bullets working on that I could perhaps use your help on maybe improving a little?" If she seemed interested or gives the go ahead, Doozey would go into an explanation of what he's done so far and thought process involving even making holy water bullets as well.

From there things would naturally flow towards picking her brain on substances or potential containment material that could still be used in conjunction with a sling or crossbow for unique or tactical effect.

(@Lerus: Can over the Short Rest Doozey can see about making a few more Phoenix Rounds (Alchemy Fire bullets)?)

(@Ori: You already have the distilled solution for it, so as long as you brought it with you, I'll say yes on the phoenix rounds. Roll an DEX-based Alchemist's Supplies check to see how many of them you manage to soak/treat over the short rest. Villonah will help you.)

Villonah to Doozey: "You are asking me to help with your tinkering? You are starting to sound like my father!" She allows herself to laugh a bit and then begins picking Doozey's brain on whatever ammunition-based ideas he had. (You may roll an INT-based Alchemist's Supplies check with Villonah's help to see if you successfully finalize the necessary design for your earlier idea on a glass-bullet-holy-water delivery system right here while brainstorming with Villonah. Those supplies are at the inn, though, right?)

Rhonda to Utar: "I have never been the religious type, so I'm not sure I can say anything. I saw what you did with your amulet, though. Would you say a few words in my stead?"

(@Lerus: Yeah, the glass stuff is definitely at the Inn. So, if I can't make the check quite yet as far brain storming part just yet without some physical tinkering, I'll leave that be for now. But definitely have the alchemy supplies and phoenix round supplies.)

Phoenix Round Replenishing: 22.

Doozey cocked his head at the comparison, but soon after literally shrugged it off as a good thing, more or less. And if not, well, he's been compared to worse people, and didn't exactly have the mentality to care all that much about things outside the creed, promises, and jobs at hand. At least... most of the time.

MESSAGE INTERLUDE - FEY LORD TEAM 

Doozey receives the following message from Senitir: "We found a dead hobgoblin while traversing phe forest. Her skin and clophing were dyed green, and she had bludgeoning and piercing wounds on her body, as well as two arrows on her back. I was able to discern phat her non-arrow wounds were inflicted by blunt trauma and blades. She still had a coin purse on her."

Neya receives the following message from Zern: "What I heard about the Zartruss hobgoblins was true. They wear necklaces of severed fingers, believing that by collecting the digits of their fallen enemies they bind their souls into servitude in the afterlife."

Graxx receives the following message from Dornal: "We found a stone archway in the middle of the forest, choked in vines. The stonework was undoubtedly elven in make, and quite old. I'd guess they are remains of an ancient gateway that belonged to the elven kingdoms of Illefarn or Rilithar."

Doozey receives the following message from Senitir: "We found a stone archway in phe middle of phe forest. Dornal looked at it, phen I did. I found runes commonly associated wiph teleportation magic, but phey were very old and long inactive. I doubt phey could be repaired."

Utar receives the following message from Seranolla: "We heard something crashing through the forest and gave chase. We found two hobgoblins engaged in a running battle with three satyrs. I sensed something was wrong and convinced the group not to interfere. The satyrs looked exceedingly gaunt, their faces had green growths on them, and boils as well. They had green moss growing amidst their hair too. I tried determining the origin of these strange additions to their bodies but failed. Thankfully, the green moss told me the satyrs were corrupted by the presence of a great evil. You can surely deduce the rest."

Villonah receives the following message from Caah: "Without our interference, the satyrs soon killed the hobgoblins. They then approached us, toying and insulting, before attacking us in a murderous rage. We had no choice but to kill them. Seranolla is unhappy with me, but I say the corruption had made them mad and that they were far too gone. If anything, they would probably have turned and betrayed other fey in the forest. Traitors deserve death."

Graxx receives the following message from Dornal: "After the fight, we traveled around a ridge when our path ended suddenly at a wooden post with two signs. One of the signs has been carved to read “Princess Ishaldra,” and pointed to a new path. The other sign was featureless. I know that Princess Ishaldra is a beautiful fey and was once a consort to King Witchthorn, the Fey Lord we seek."

Utar receives the following message from Seranolla: "As we made our way to the two signs, I noticed that we traveled through a series of valleys, each one taking us further downward, impossibly so. King Witchthorn’s realm is magical in nature. The unnaturally descending valleys may indicate his realm is close. The entire area radiates faint fey magic."

Neya receives the following message from Zern: "The signpost radiated powerful conjuration magic, but we could not devise how to use it. All hints pointed toward this magical but featureless sign post, but the key to unlock its power eluded us."

Villonah receives the following message from Caah: "Not wanting to risk the unknown, we had no choice but seek this Princess instead. This is likely the indirect route to our path, so our mission may take longer than expected."

Utar agrees to say some words. When the time comes, he kneels beside the graves and gives a simple blessing to the deceased. Not much, but better than nothing.