Merric graciously accepts the payment and the compliment from Edhelri “Just doing what I can, I’ll see you to Waterdeep.” As Edhelri leaves, he acknowledges Eldkin with a smile “Those animals are a lot more important to the caravan than I am, they are the only thing getting it from one place to another.”
His keen elven ears pick up the commotion with Rogram and, Merric quickly moves over and tries to calm him in a low voice “What are you doing, what is the matter with you? You can’t threaten them like that.” He notices the Rangers introducing themselves to the caravan and sighs "Oh no, someone took those fanciful stories to heart last night, didn't they?"
While the wagons roll into place, the party notices Lai providing instruction to the Rangers, pointing and glancing in Rogram's direction. Most of the conversation from the well-rested travelers centers around Lai's impressive new guards. Rogram feels a large hand on his shoulder. "Come," the Pole says in his deep voice. Leda stands nearby, sharpening the tip of her spear. "He's not worth your ire," she tells Rogram. "There are still a couple of tendays left before Waterdeep. Plenty of opportunities to find work."
For Rogram:
OOC: Noted! There are a few men and women that Rogram would now associate with the cult wagons that aren't traveling with the wagons themselves and are spread throughout the caravan. The next opportunity, let me know what Rogram is thinking and I'll build on that intention.
OOC: Added the party's wages to their inventories.
Rogram scowls at Merric, and leans in closely so only the elf can hear him. "We'll talk later," he says quickly. Leaning away, he says at full volume -- but not yelling, "He's going to be sorry he fired me. He doesn't even realize half the talent I have. Has he forgotten how I handled the bugbears? Can those adventurers turn invisible and control the wind?"
Rogram is surprised and not able to hide it as The Pole leads him to Leda, and she encourages him to have patience. Once he remembers himself, Rogram screws up his face in anger. "He can't just dismiss us like that. I'm not saying I'm going to ... Anyway, I agree. There is opportunity to find work. I'm planning on that." He starts to turn, then stops and looks back at Leda. "Thank you for everything." He glances up at The Pole and back to Leda. "Good luck with everything."
@Barty: Are those who Rogram suspects are with the Cult but who aren't part of the Cult's wagons working together at certain wagons, or are they scattered throughout the caravan?
OOC: The gist of it is that Rogram is gleaning that there are likely several members of the Cult on this caravan, some who are pretending to be guards/merchants just like Lai/Edhelri/Beyd/Nyerhite, and some who are pretending to be travelers that are traveling with the caravan from Baldur's Gate to Waterdeep for safety. They're doing a good job with the acting, but Rogram has known what to look for.
Rogram decides to walk with Merric once the caravan gets going. He explains to the elf how he's been trying to figure out a way to break into the Cult so that when they arrive up north, he might be able to find out more about where his father is. He's hoping now that he's unemployed, this might be his chance. He's noticed some individuals who he suspects are associated with the Cult, but not the Cult's wagons. Once they stop for the night, he's going to make the rounds, trying to get work with any of those individuals to try to get closer.
Merric listens as Rogram explains his plan and puts his hand on his arm. “Be careful, these are dangerous people you are dealing with. Call for me if you need any help, and good luck.” Merric flashes a smile.
Merric makes his way to Carlon in the back of Beyd’s wagon, nodding a greeting to Karib. “Stay here, in this out of the way tavern? We can do better than that to get you back on your feet, but I do have some more questions. I know you are holding something back, and I understand your mistrust, but we did dig you out of that hole. What is your relationship with Those that Harp?” Merric points toward the tatto on the man’s arm, now covered by his clothing.
“Stay here, in this out of the way tavern? We can do better than that to get you back on your feet, but I do have some more questions. I know you are holding something back, and I understand your mistrust, but we did dig you out of that hole. What is your relationship with Those that Harp?”
Carlon instinctively covers his tattoo, despite it already being covered by clothing. "Really, it would be alright," he says. "I'm not above doing some menial work here to get enough coin to make it to Baldur's Gate or Waterdeep."
He pauses in thought, then returns the question to Merric. "What is your relationship with them?"
“Waterdeep? Stick with us, we can get you there, without wasting time working in a roadside tavern.” Merric watches Carlon’s hand go to his sleeve, covering up the already hidden mark and pauses, considering his response carefully before chuckling “My relationship? I have none. But I would see that any Harper, in good standing or not, could count me as a friend and ally. There are strange tidings moving across the countryside, and we could all use friends. Now what say you?”
Karib spends the day in thought, alternating between watching the road and watching their new guest.
He tries to engage Carlon in conversation as they travel, questioning him gently about what he did before he met with his fiance, where he grew up and what he plans to do now. As he ponders the future he also asks what skills he might have should the caravan be attacked.
For himself, Karib is happy to speak of time studying the ways of Gond and of smithing. Karib is no great conversationalist, but is a good listener and adept at filling in the gaps in conversation when necessary to keep it going. As the day passes he tries to take the measure on Carlon, at least in terms of detecting any duplicity.
The experience with the sisters seemed odd to Karib from the start, as does Carlon's appearance in the road. Who leaves a man buried in a trade road? That's inviting rescue, not death. When the colourful adventurers appear in the tavern, he becomes even more suspicious. Could they be connected?
In the morning he engages in his usual rituals, but entreats Gond for a slight change in the spells that he is granted.
Over breakfast he quietly mentions his concerns to Rogram and the others -- he regrets not voicing his concerns about the sisters more forcefully, and when Rogram is dismissed in favour of the colourful "adventurers", his brow furrows and his suspicions deepen. Hydra-killing adventurers signing on as caravan guards? He shakes his head and catches the others eyes, "Could mean more trouble."
His frown deepens further at Rogram's reaction, but he just nods slowly with a sigh. "I hope he's careful."
Finally, when Merric suggests Carlon stay with them, Karib nods approvingly. "Though there might be a few more pointed questions today," he says. The phrase 'Keep your friends close and your enemies closer', springs to mind, but he says nothing.
Carlon mulls Merric's words over for some time. "You're right that there is more to my story. I am a Harper, and I was on Harper business when I was waylaid. I cannot say much more than that to any who are not a Harper themselves. But I will travel with you for now. I like my chances of reaching Waterdeep better with a caravan. Especially considering my weapons and armor are gone," he says.
The caravan makes great speed on the road as the weather continues to stay pleasant. Midday, cloud cover provides welcome relief from the sun, and travelers are chipper as the caravan comes to a halt in the evening and hunters range outward to bring in fresh game for dinner.
As is typical, several fires are starting along the side of the road for conversation and an evening meal.
OOC: I'm assuming that Rogram is going to find one of those he suspects to be with the Cult to chat with, and that Merric/Karib are going to be speaking to Carlon, but I'm leaving an opening in your descriptions for you to set up the fireside groups your characters would like to be a part of. Feel free to include Leda/The Pole/Akira's guards in your groups as you see fit and add any conversation you'd like to have with these NPCs and each other, then we'll advance!
Not being tied to a wagon, Rogram joins the hunting party, arming his light crossbow. If any of the cult-related folks are hunting, he will attempt to hunt with them. If using spells will help (e.g., invisibility, prestidigitation, long strider, or silent image), he would use them.
After the hunt, if Rogram was able to hunt with anyone, he will join them around a fire and talk about the hunt, trying to further ingratiate himself. Otherwise, he will pick one and find something to talk about.
As the day starts Karib settles in the wagon with Carlon and perhaps with Merric, whom he would have apprised of his plans. He draws a deep breath and turns to Carlon.
"As I said, we've had some nasty suprises of late, and I'd like to avoid any more."
He rubs his palms together, clearly a little uncomfortable and draws another deep breath before continuing. "So...I'm going to petition Gond for his aid and I suggest you don't resist my spell -- I will know if you do. If you don't want to answer a question, just say so, and perhaps tell me why. I will not pry."
He waits for Carlon to nod before continuing. A sense of calm and clarity settles on the area and he asks Carlon his first questions, speaking softly but clearly.
"These questions are uppermost in my mind and a full answer would be welcome, and certainly set my mind at ease. Do you mean ill to the traders in these wagons? Are your loyalties to the Harpers, and do you know -- or are you working with -- the colourful adventurers?"
If the spell AOE does not move (which is entirely possible!), he could do it early in the day in his room, or at lunch time, or later in the day. He'd prefer some privacy.
He also does not want to pry: if the answers are "no, yes and no" then he will probably be done, but I'll probably add more dialog after he responds!
Relevant bits of the spell are: a creature that enters the spell's area for the first time on a turn or starts its turn there must make a Charisma saving throw. (I'm assuming that they can choose to fail or that Karib can wait until they fail) On a failed save, a creature can't speak a deliberate lie while in the radius. You know whether each creature succeeds or fails on its saving throw.
Rogram takes a seat with a human woman he saw hunting that he has attributed to the cult based on his insight along the journey. Her black hair is straight but unkempt. Her face has narrow and angular features, and she snickers when he starts up conversation about the hunt. "You know, you do track pretty well for someone who got caught unawares and taken for all they were worth," she remarks.
Carlon sighs but submits to Karib's zone of truth, answering each question in turn.
Do you mean ill to the traders in these wagons?
"These traders are the least of my concerns."
Are your loyalties to the Harpers?
"I am a Harper, and I take my missions seriously, yes. That elf guard was asking me about this yesterday, and I'll tell you the same thing I told him. I will speak Harper business to a Harper and to no one else."
Do you know -- or are you working with -- the colourful adventurers?
"I have never seen them before today, but I already find them irritating."
For Karib:
Even without the Zone of Truth, Carlon's answers strike you as genuine. He seems troubled by something he is unwilling to speak to anyone he doesn't trust, but not a threat to this caravan.
Rogram can't help but smirk. He looks at the fire as he responds to the woman. "This whole trip is something of a disaster. First, the shapeshifting sisters empty my pockets, and then I'm sacked so that Lai can hire those blowhards. I'm beginning to wish I had waited for the next caravan." He looks over his shoulder toward Lai's wagon, then back at the fire. "Good for nothing ... " he says, trailing off. "I could really make him regret it. But I won't. Not out here in the middle of nowhere." He heaves a great sigh. "Anyway," he says, turning to smile at the woman, "you wouldn't happen to know of any wagons who are hiring, would you? I'm quite skilled. I'd be an asset."
Karib laughs and nods at the last statement, "Something about the colours, right? I can't help wondering what their real plans are." His eyes wander to his own foppish hat, and he shrugs. "No matter for now."
Looking closely at Carlon, he considers each the man's responses. They were not evasive, but they were not helpful. It takes a few moments for him to sift through the words, and what they might mean, and all the while he does not take his eyes off the man.
"Sometimes..." he says, speaking slowly and deliberately. "...when questions are asked, people try to be helpful. They give more details than needed. And that just muddies the waters. I think that's what's happening now."
He glances at Merric before continuing, "What I need is for you to tell me the following:"
He raises a finger on his hand with each point as he makes it. "One: That you mean no ill to the genuine traders in this caravan. Two: That you are loyal to the causes of the Harpers, and three: That you are not working with the colourful adventurers."
"It sounds pendantic, I know, but if you can repeat those statements then I think we can proceed."
(( Assuming he does what he's asked: ))
Karib nods and lets out a long slow breath. "Thank you," he says, smiling. "Then I think I can reveal this to you..."
He fumbles under his armour to the pouch beneath, and gingerly lifts out the harper pin. "I think we may have a few interests in common after all."
Lowering his voice he leans in close. "You said you might reveal more to such an ally."
"You wouldn't happen to know of any wagons who are hiring, would you? I'm quite skilled. I'd be an asset."
The woman snickers and begins to sharpen the scimitar she carries with a whetstone. "I'm sure you would be. But no. I haven't talked much with any of the wagons. Too foppish for my taste, the lot of them," she says.
For Rogram:
If you didn't already know this to be a lie, you would have a hard time disbelieving her, but you have seen her interacting with the cult wagons on more than one occasion - not too frequently, but enough for you to have drawn the association.
After Carlon verifies Karib's question again (with a roll of the eyes) and the cleric reveals his association with the Harpers, Carlon shakes his head and sighs. "You could have just led with that," he grumbles.
"Alright...you want the truth, you got it," Carlon says in his gravelly, monotone fashion. "The fiancee bit is a fabrication. And so is the bit about bandits, mostly. And the broken oath. But that part was someone else's lie." His eyes look upward, as if he can still see the word written on his forehead. "I was on a caravan a lot like this one, tracking a shipment of stolen loot north. I caught wind of the smugglers in Baldur's Gate. Overheard 'em talking more loudly than was probably good for them. Long story short, a couple of the words they used stood out and I did some quick research. I'm certain they're members of the Cult of the Dragon. So I tagged on to the caravan and followed 'em."
"Anyway," he shakes his head as if disappointed, "I obviously wasn't as careful as I thought. They must have been suspicious of me before we even reached the inn, and they saw me passing information to another Harper. These cultists manufactured this story, said I was passing information to bandits. It worried the merchants enough that...well, you saw the end result. They weren't willing to kill me outright, the cowards, so instead they left me buried in the road to 'let providence decide the man's fate'."
He shakes his head at the unpleasant memory. "I have contacts in Waterdeep I wanted to reach to let them know what was going on. Whatever they were smuggling, it seemed bigger than just that caravan," he says.
The next day is entirely overcast, and as peaceful as the day before. After covering many more miles, the wagons reach a spot suitable to stop for the day, and camp is set once more.
After Carlon verifies Karib's question again (with a roll of the eyes) and the cleric reveals his association with the Harpers, Carlon shakes his head and sighs. "You could have just led with that," he grumbles.
Karib chuckles, "Trust is a sword with two edges."
He glances around out of habit, before leaning in close again. "These people are ruthless and capable, as you well know. But you are correct, there is more going on than simple theft and the Cult is indeed involved. They are looting towns and moving the treasure north for some reason. The destination, and the why are not clear. I'd suggest you keep a low profile."
He sits, pondering the situation, and his mind wanders to Rogram. "What is it that gave you away to them? How did they know that the person you spoke with was a harper?"
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Merric graciously accepts the payment and the compliment from Edhelri “Just doing what I can, I’ll see you to Waterdeep.” As Edhelri leaves, he acknowledges Eldkin with a smile “Those animals are a lot more important to the caravan than I am, they are the only thing getting it from one place to another.”
His keen elven ears pick up the commotion with Rogram and, Merric quickly moves over and tries to calm him in a low voice “What are you doing, what is the matter with you? You can’t threaten them like that.” He notices the Rangers introducing themselves to the caravan and sighs "Oh no, someone took those fanciful stories to heart last night, didn't they?"
While the wagons roll into place, the party notices Lai providing instruction to the Rangers, pointing and glancing in Rogram's direction. Most of the conversation from the well-rested travelers centers around Lai's impressive new guards. Rogram feels a large hand on his shoulder. "Come," the Pole says in his deep voice. Leda stands nearby, sharpening the tip of her spear. "He's not worth your ire," she tells Rogram. "There are still a couple of tendays left before Waterdeep. Plenty of opportunities to find work."
For Rogram:
OOC: Noted! There are a few men and women that Rogram would now associate with the cult wagons that aren't traveling with the wagons themselves and are spread throughout the caravan. The next opportunity, let me know what Rogram is thinking and I'll build on that intention.
OOC: Added the party's wages to their inventories.
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Rogram scowls at Merric, and leans in closely so only the elf can hear him. "We'll talk later," he says quickly. Leaning away, he says at full volume -- but not yelling, "He's going to be sorry he fired me. He doesn't even realize half the talent I have. Has he forgotten how I handled the bugbears? Can those adventurers turn invisible and control the wind?"
Rogram is surprised and not able to hide it as The Pole leads him to Leda, and she encourages him to have patience. Once he remembers himself, Rogram screws up his face in anger. "He can't just dismiss us like that. I'm not saying I'm going to ... Anyway, I agree. There is opportunity to find work. I'm planning on that." He starts to turn, then stops and looks back at Leda. "Thank you for everything." He glances up at The Pole and back to Leda. "Good luck with everything."
@Barty: Are those who Rogram suspects are with the Cult but who aren't part of the Cult's wagons working together at certain wagons, or are they scattered throughout the caravan?
OOC: The gist of it is that Rogram is gleaning that there are likely several members of the Cult on this caravan, some who are pretending to be guards/merchants just like Lai/Edhelri/Beyd/Nyerhite, and some who are pretending to be travelers that are traveling with the caravan from Baldur's Gate to Waterdeep for safety. They're doing a good job with the acting, but Rogram has known what to look for.
See my profile for all my PbP threads!
Rogram decides to walk with Merric once the caravan gets going. He explains to the elf how he's been trying to figure out a way to break into the Cult so that when they arrive up north, he might be able to find out more about where his father is. He's hoping now that he's unemployed, this might be his chance. He's noticed some individuals who he suspects are associated with the Cult, but not the Cult's wagons. Once they stop for the night, he's going to make the rounds, trying to get work with any of those individuals to try to get closer.
Merric listens as Rogram explains his plan and puts his hand on his arm. “Be careful, these are dangerous people you are dealing with. Call for me if you need any help, and good luck.” Merric flashes a smile.
Merric makes his way to Carlon in the back of Beyd’s wagon, nodding a greeting to Karib. “Stay here, in this out of the way tavern? We can do better than that to get you back on your feet, but I do have some more questions. I know you are holding something back, and I understand your mistrust, but we did dig you out of that hole. What is your relationship with Those that Harp?” Merric points toward the tatto on the man’s arm, now covered by his clothing.
Carlon instinctively covers his tattoo, despite it already being covered by clothing. "Really, it would be alright," he says. "I'm not above doing some menial work here to get enough coin to make it to Baldur's Gate or Waterdeep."
He pauses in thought, then returns the question to Merric. "What is your relationship with them?"
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Rogram looks back and forth between Carlon and Merric. His brow furrows. What was going on?
OOC: Awaiting further conversation with Carlon to continue
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“Waterdeep? Stick with us, we can get you there, without wasting time working in a roadside tavern.” Merric watches Carlon’s hand go to his sleeve, covering up the already hidden mark and pauses, considering his response carefully before chuckling “My relationship? I have none. But I would see that any Harper, in good standing or not, could count me as a friend and ally. There are strange tidings moving across the countryside, and we could all use friends. Now what say you?”
Karib spends the day in thought, alternating between watching the road and watching their new guest.
He tries to engage Carlon in conversation as they travel, questioning him gently about what he did before he met with his fiance, where he grew up and what he plans to do now. As he ponders the future he also asks what skills he might have should the caravan be attacked.
For himself, Karib is happy to speak of time studying the ways of Gond and of smithing. Karib is no great conversationalist, but is a good listener and adept at filling in the gaps in conversation when necessary to keep it going. As the day passes he tries to take the measure on Carlon, at least in terms of detecting any duplicity.
The experience with the sisters seemed odd to Karib from the start, as does Carlon's appearance in the road. Who leaves a man buried in a trade road? That's inviting rescue, not death. When the colourful adventurers appear in the tavern, he becomes even more suspicious. Could they be connected?
In the morning he engages in his usual rituals, but entreats Gond for a slight change in the spells that he is granted.
Over breakfast he quietly mentions his concerns to Rogram and the others -- he regrets not voicing his concerns about the sisters more forcefully, and when Rogram is dismissed in favour of the colourful "adventurers", his brow furrows and his suspicions deepen. Hydra-killing adventurers signing on as caravan guards? He shakes his head and catches the others eyes, "Could mean more trouble."
His frown deepens further at Rogram's reaction, but he just nods slowly with a sigh. "I hope he's careful."
Finally, when Merric suggests Carlon stay with them, Karib nods approvingly. "Though there might be a few more pointed questions today," he says. The phrase 'Keep your friends close and your enemies closer', springs to mind, but he says nothing.
RP Insight roll: 24
Karib swaps in Zone of Truth
Carlon mulls Merric's words over for some time. "You're right that there is more to my story. I am a Harper, and I was on Harper business when I was waylaid. I cannot say much more than that to any who are not a Harper themselves. But I will travel with you for now. I like my chances of reaching Waterdeep better with a caravan. Especially considering my weapons and armor are gone," he says.
The caravan makes great speed on the road as the weather continues to stay pleasant. Midday, cloud cover provides welcome relief from the sun, and travelers are chipper as the caravan comes to a halt in the evening and hunters range outward to bring in fresh game for dinner.
As is typical, several fires are starting along the side of the road for conversation and an evening meal.
OOC: I'm assuming that Rogram is going to find one of those he suspects to be with the Cult to chat with, and that Merric/Karib are going to be speaking to Carlon, but I'm leaving an opening in your descriptions for you to set up the fireside groups your characters would like to be a part of. Feel free to include Leda/The Pole/Akira's guards in your groups as you see fit and add any conversation you'd like to have with these NPCs and each other, then we'll advance!
See my profile for all my PbP threads!
Not being tied to a wagon, Rogram joins the hunting party, arming his light crossbow. If any of the cult-related folks are hunting, he will attempt to hunt with them. If using spells will help (e.g., invisibility, prestidigitation, long strider, or silent image), he would use them.
After the hunt, if Rogram was able to hunt with anyone, he will join them around a fire and talk about the hunt, trying to further ingratiate himself. Otherwise, he will pick one and find something to talk about.
As the day starts Karib settles in the wagon with Carlon and perhaps with Merric, whom he would have apprised of his plans. He draws a deep breath and turns to Carlon.
"As I said, we've had some nasty suprises of late, and I'd like to avoid any more."
He rubs his palms together, clearly a little uncomfortable and draws another deep breath before continuing. "So...I'm going to petition Gond for his aid and I suggest you don't resist my spell -- I will know if you do. If you don't want to answer a question, just say so, and perhaps tell me why. I will not pry."
He waits for Carlon to nod before continuing. A sense of calm and clarity settles on the area and he asks Carlon his first questions, speaking softly but clearly.
"These questions are uppermost in my mind and a full answer would be welcome, and certainly set my mind at ease. Do you mean ill to the traders in these wagons? Are your loyalties to the Harpers, and do you know -- or are you working with -- the colourful adventurers?"
If the spell AOE does not move (which is entirely possible!), he could do it early in the day in his room, or at lunch time, or later in the day. He'd prefer some privacy.
He also does not want to pry: if the answers are "no, yes and no" then he will probably be done, but I'll probably add more dialog after he responds!
Relevant bits of the spell are: a creature that enters the spell's area for the first time on a turn or starts its turn there must make a Charisma saving throw. (I'm assuming that they can choose to fail or that Karib can wait until they fail) On a failed save, a creature can't speak a deliberate lie while in the radius. You know whether each creature succeeds or fails on its saving throw.
Rogram takes a seat with a human woman he saw hunting that he has attributed to the cult based on his insight along the journey. Her black hair is straight but unkempt. Her face has narrow and angular features, and she snickers when he starts up conversation about the hunt. "You know, you do track pretty well for someone who got caught unawares and taken for all they were worth," she remarks.
Carlon sighs but submits to Karib's zone of truth, answering each question in turn.
"These traders are the least of my concerns."
"I am a Harper, and I take my missions seriously, yes. That elf guard was asking me about this yesterday, and I'll tell you the same thing I told him. I will speak Harper business to a Harper and to no one else."
"I have never seen them before today, but I already find them irritating."
For Karib:
Even without the Zone of Truth, Carlon's answers strike you as genuine. He seems troubled by something he is unwilling to speak to anyone he doesn't trust, but not a threat to this caravan.
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Rogram can't help but smirk. He looks at the fire as he responds to the woman. "This whole trip is something of a disaster. First, the shapeshifting sisters empty my pockets, and then I'm sacked so that Lai can hire those blowhards. I'm beginning to wish I had waited for the next caravan." He looks over his shoulder toward Lai's wagon, then back at the fire. "Good for nothing ... " he says, trailing off. "I could really make him regret it. But I won't. Not out here in the middle of nowhere." He heaves a great sigh. "Anyway," he says, turning to smile at the woman, "you wouldn't happen to know of any wagons who are hiring, would you? I'm quite skilled. I'd be an asset."
Karib laughs and nods at the last statement, "Something about the colours, right? I can't help wondering what their real plans are." His eyes wander to his own foppish hat, and he shrugs. "No matter for now."
Looking closely at Carlon, he considers each the man's responses. They were not evasive, but they were not helpful. It takes a few moments for him to sift through the words, and what they might mean, and all the while he does not take his eyes off the man.
"Sometimes..." he says, speaking slowly and deliberately. "...when questions are asked, people try to be helpful. They give more details than needed. And that just muddies the waters. I think that's what's happening now."
He glances at Merric before continuing, "What I need is for you to tell me the following:"
He raises a finger on his hand with each point as he makes it. "One: That you mean no ill to the genuine traders in this caravan. Two: That you are loyal to the causes of the Harpers, and three: That you are not working with the colourful adventurers."
"It sounds pendantic, I know, but if you can repeat those statements then I think we can proceed."
(( Assuming he does what he's asked: ))
Karib nods and lets out a long slow breath. "Thank you," he says, smiling. "Then I think I can reveal this to you..."
He fumbles under his armour to the pouch beneath, and gingerly lifts out the harper pin. "I think we may have a few interests in common after all."
Lowering his voice he leans in close. "You said you might reveal more to such an ally."
The woman snickers and begins to sharpen the scimitar she carries with a whetstone. "I'm sure you would be. But no. I haven't talked much with any of the wagons. Too foppish for my taste, the lot of them," she says.
For Rogram:
If you didn't already know this to be a lie, you would have a hard time disbelieving her, but you have seen her interacting with the cult wagons on more than one occasion - not too frequently, but enough for you to have drawn the association.
After Carlon verifies Karib's question again (with a roll of the eyes) and the cleric reveals his association with the Harpers, Carlon shakes his head and sighs. "You could have just led with that," he grumbles.
"Alright...you want the truth, you got it," Carlon says in his gravelly, monotone fashion. "The fiancee bit is a fabrication. And so is the bit about bandits, mostly. And the broken oath. But that part was someone else's lie." His eyes look upward, as if he can still see the word written on his forehead. "I was on a caravan a lot like this one, tracking a shipment of stolen loot north. I caught wind of the smugglers in Baldur's Gate. Overheard 'em talking more loudly than was probably good for them. Long story short, a couple of the words they used stood out and I did some quick research. I'm certain they're members of the Cult of the Dragon. So I tagged on to the caravan and followed 'em."
"Anyway," he shakes his head as if disappointed, "I obviously wasn't as careful as I thought. They must have been suspicious of me before we even reached the inn, and they saw me passing information to another Harper. These cultists manufactured this story, said I was passing information to bandits. It worried the merchants enough that...well, you saw the end result. They weren't willing to kill me outright, the cowards, so instead they left me buried in the road to 'let providence decide the man's fate'."
He shakes his head at the unpleasant memory. "I have contacts in Waterdeep I wanted to reach to let them know what was going on. Whatever they were smuggling, it seemed bigger than just that caravan," he says.
The next day is entirely overcast, and as peaceful as the day before. After covering many more miles, the wagons reach a spot suitable to stop for the day, and camp is set once more.
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OOC: Hey, Barty, in the time Rogram has been fighting against the Cult of the Dragon, has he seen any kind of symbolism associate with the cult?
Karib chuckles, "Trust is a sword with two edges."
He glances around out of habit, before leaning in close again. "These people are ruthless and capable, as you well know. But you are correct, there is more going on than simple theft and the Cult is indeed involved. They are looting towns and moving the treasure north for some reason. The destination, and the why are not clear. I'd suggest you keep a low profile."
He sits, pondering the situation, and his mind wanders to Rogram. "What is it that gave you away to them? How did they know that the person you spoke with was a harper?"