The stables have a front and back opening, with short, wide windows occupying the side in a row. The building itself does not look to be well-guarded, but the wagons themselves certainly still are. The doors are large enough that the inside of the stables can be seen well enough from outside, and does not stand out much from a typical stables, with two rows of animal pens along each side of the building.
Merric squats down by the others, studying the building. “I don’t know, Rogram. I think you showing up will just lead to more questions. Not sure what else we can find from the building either. We have a good idea what’s in the wagons, and Karib’s right, they are bound to be guarded. I think our best bet is to follow one of the groups leaving the northern gate. Akira, can you tell us if another group leaves? Or that one returns.” Merric looks around the crowded city lot. “We still need to find out where they are going and I can track them better outside of the city.”
Karib nods when Merric's speaks to Rogram, "Aye. What will you gain from speaking to her, lad? More embarrassment? An untimely death? I think she already knows that you are not what you say you are."
"We need to be clear on what we want to know. What are they doing with the treasure? Why just leave it in the wagons? Does that mean they are moving on again soon? Are they trading it here?"
"Too many questions and not enough answers." His brow furrows as he stares up the road. "The Red Wizard did not go with them. I wonder what he's up to..."
Karib then looks at the wagons speculatively, "There may be a way to track the treasure...or at least follow it safely..."
"They are not too choosy I think." He tries to recall the shops he passed on the way, attempting to recall a jeweller or similar shop...someone selling trinkets that might match the kinds of treasure taken from Greenest.
(( @DM: If he can recall such a shop and it is not too far away, he buys the cheapest gold ring he can find, preferably worth less than 10gp.)
Karib returns to the group, uncertain if his plan will help, but always pleased to have a backup option to call upon. He examines the ring closely, then shows it to the others.
"Do you think one of you might be able to add that to the treasure hoard?" he asks, looking quickly from face to face. For a brief moment he looks not so much like a scarred and battered warrior-priest and more like an eager child asking parents for a favour. The moment passes quickly, "With preparation I should be able to find it if it is close enough."
"Leave it to me," Jamna says. "If anyone can create a distraction while I do it, anything that can draw their attention away for a few moment, that will help. I won't even need to get into the back, I can just use a momentary distraction to climb atop a wagon, crack open the door, and toss the ring in. If you're right about what's in the boxes, then even if they notice it outside a box they'll just think it spilled."
Carlon adds, "The ones that left are getting further away. Those of us not helping with the wagon and the distraction should probably follow them and see where they're headed, no?"
Karib nods at both comments, "Aye. Good plans both. Maybe Rogram can distract with one of those skills he was showing off before, or Akira? Seems to me that there's three to keep eyes on: The riders, the wizard, and the money. For now it seems the wizard is staying with the money."
He turns to Carlon, "Would you know anyone here...mutual friends perhaps...that could watch this place while the rest of us follow the riders?"
Carlon scratches his chin in thought. "By the time I could find someone allied with the Harpers and explain the situation we'll lose them. I can stay here and help with the distraction for Jamna while you follow," he says.
Other than the group that has already left, and is getting further away, Akira does not see anyone else from the cult coming or leaving through her familiar's eyesight.
OOC: Since Rogram is still away, we can assume he is staying to assist with the distraction.
"I can distract," the half-dwarf says, smiling. He casts disguise self on himself once again, this time making himself look like an elderly woman with milky eyes. "Are we ready?"
Once the others — specifically Jamna — are ready, Rogram walks straight at the stable, entering and bumping around. If approached or questioned, he says in a gruff voice pitched higher than his normal tone, "Who's there? I'm looking for my horse. Willow? Willow!" He moves about with his arms outstretched, appearing blind or at least mostly blind.
OOC: Alright, so Rogram, Carlon, and Jamna are staying with the wagons and attempting to plant a ring for Karib. I'm still a little unclear on whether anybody is planning to follow the group that left to the north (it could be that nobody wants to follow that group at all, I just don't want to assume that before advancing further).
When things seem to be taking shape at the wagons, Karib looks to the others. "I can follow behind you lot, if you want to investigate where they are going."
He purses his lips, "If I lose you, I'll come back here...and if noone's here, meet back at the Drunken Goat?"
(( @DM: I'm not sure if we have settled on any inn or place to stay yet! ))
Merric watches as the team prepares to insert the ring into the wagon with interest, then turns toward the direction of the gate, lips pursed in thought. “This is wise, Karib. A chance to follow them from a greater distance. As long as the treasure doesn’t get split up, we are in business. I don’t think we should split up, though. Not without a better way to communicate. We want to follow the wagons anyway. I wager they will end up wherever the riders are going eventually.”
OOC: just my two cents. I vote for staying together as a group and following the wagons.
Karib nods and seems relieved; he was not at all confident of following riders on foot through the city while in heavy armour and remaining unseen. It was hard enough following his companions last time.
"Yes," he says drawing out the word, "but the range is very limited. Good for a small villiage...but it does give another option. Akira's companion is more likely to help when they are on the move."
Rogram's entrance to the stable doesn't cause much of a distraction in and of itself - in a city the size of Waterdeep, one batty old woman is far from unordinary. However, the reaction of the guards inside, shouting and swearing as they force the old woman back at spearpoint, causes quite a scene. In the flickering lamplight of the evening, the party sees the shadow of Jamna clamber atop one of the wagons, just long enough to sidle down behind it. Looking around, however, it seems the denizens and travelers in the area are more interested in the guards chasing a blind old woman out of the stables than one wagon among many. Though there are guards near the cult wagons, none of them react in a way to suggest that they are aware of Jamna's presence.
"And there you have it," Jamna suddenly says from behind the party after a few minutes, dusting her hands. "One ring, safely tucked away inside a wagon. Well...safely tossed inside a wagon. They watch those things like hawks, I wasn't going to stick around any longer than necessary." Watching Rogram stumble away from the stables under the guise of the old woman, she chuckles. "Not bad, kid."
With the limited range from her familiar, Akira can track the cultists that left to the north long enough to see that they enter a large warehouse just inside the city's northern gate, before reappearing later in the day.
For Rogram:
Inside the stables, you can immediately tell that the guards are not buying your distraction. Though they don't seem to know exactly what is going on, their suspicions seem raised from the moment you enter. However, unwilling to chance anything with the eyes of the crowd passing by, they simply shout at you to leave, aiming their spears in your direction but not pressing the matter further.
Rogram maintains his appearance until he feels he is out of sight. Returning to the others looking like himself, he asks, "Did it work?" When they say that it did, he beams.
"OK, so what about the other group? Is everyone still in town? Should we try to get jobs with the caravan again, or do you think they're on to us?"
OOC: We're slowing again, so I'll advance to the next day while we await further input. We can assume the group found some comfortable lodging in Waterdeep for the night without having to RP it.
In the morning and afternoon, more groups of cultists leave for the warehouse near the northern gate, returning shortly thereafter. "Looks like they're done with resting," Carlon remarks as the group shows signs of outfitting their wagons for travel. Another pair of wagons enters the district soon after, each being pulled by a pair of massive draft horses. "Those aren't no merchant wagons," Jamna says. "And look at that on the side, that's the seal of Lord Neverember. I wonder if they know they're working with the Cult of the Dragon," she thinks aloud.
"You all had much better success than I did getting this far, so I'll lean on your expertise," Carlon says. "How do you think we should follow them?"
Merric squints in the afternoon sun, taking in the sight of the new wagons entering the yard. “I don’t think we will stand a chance joining as guards this time. They already have enough of their own. I would like to take a look at the warehouse they have been visiting by the northern gate. See what we can find there. We could use the ring to find the wagons later if they leave.” He turns to Karib “How close to you have to be to the ring to make your magic work?”
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The stables have a front and back opening, with short, wide windows occupying the side in a row. The building itself does not look to be well-guarded, but the wagons themselves certainly still are. The doors are large enough that the inside of the stables can be seen well enough from outside, and does not stand out much from a typical stables, with two rows of animal pens along each side of the building.
See my profile for all my PbP threads!
Merric squats down by the others, studying the building. “I don’t know, Rogram. I think you showing up will just lead to more questions. Not sure what else we can find from the building either. We have a good idea what’s in the wagons, and Karib’s right, they are bound to be guarded. I think our best bet is to follow one of the groups leaving the northern gate. Akira, can you tell us if another group leaves? Or that one returns.” Merric looks around the crowded city lot. “We still need to find out where they are going and I can track them better outside of the city.”
Karib nods when Merric's speaks to Rogram, "Aye. What will you gain from speaking to her, lad? More embarrassment? An untimely death? I think she already knows that you are not what you say you are."
"We need to be clear on what we want to know. What are they doing with the treasure? Why just leave it in the wagons? Does that mean they are moving on again soon? Are they trading it here?"
"Too many questions and not enough answers." His brow furrows as he stares up the road. "The Red Wizard did not go with them. I wonder what he's up to..."
Karib then looks at the wagons speculatively, "There may be a way to track the treasure...or at least follow it safely..."
"They are not too choosy I think." He tries to recall the shops he passed on the way, attempting to recall a jeweller or similar shop...someone selling trinkets that might match the kinds of treasure taken from Greenest.
(( @DM: If he can recall such a shop and it is not too far away, he buys the cheapest gold ring he can find, preferably worth less than 10gp.)
OOC: Added a ring to Karib's inventory and removed 5 gp. Plenty of shops in a city this size!
See my profile for all my PbP threads!
Karib returns to the group, uncertain if his plan will help, but always pleased to have a backup option to call upon. He examines the ring closely, then shows it to the others.
"Do you think one of you might be able to add that to the treasure hoard?" he asks, looking quickly from face to face. For a brief moment he looks not so much like a scarred and battered warrior-priest and more like an eager child asking parents for a favour. The moment passes quickly, "With preparation I should be able to find it if it is close enough."
"Leave it to me," Jamna says. "If anyone can create a distraction while I do it, anything that can draw their attention away for a few moment, that will help. I won't even need to get into the back, I can just use a momentary distraction to climb atop a wagon, crack open the door, and toss the ring in. If you're right about what's in the boxes, then even if they notice it outside a box they'll just think it spilled."
Carlon adds, "The ones that left are getting further away. Those of us not helping with the wagon and the distraction should probably follow them and see where they're headed, no?"
See my profile for all my PbP threads!
Akira telepathically links to her familiar, looking for anyone coming or going from the target area.
Halsen - Human Monk - Winter Splendor
Aradurk - Half-Orc Fighter - Barty's Blade Bizarre
Aradurk - Half-Orc Fighter - Betrayal at Devilsfall
Aradurk - Half-Orc Fighter - Barty's "The Hidden War" (Doom Portals Part 4A)
Aradurk - Half-Orc Fighter - Barty's "The Whispered Word (Doom Portals Part 5)
Garu - Tabaxi Paladin - Barty's "Beyond Twilight" (Rikirta Part 3)
Karib nods at both comments, "Aye. Good plans both. Maybe Rogram can distract with one of those skills he was showing off before, or Akira? Seems to me that there's three to keep eyes on: The riders, the wizard, and the money. For now it seems the wizard is staying with the money."
He turns to Carlon, "Would you know anyone here...mutual friends perhaps...that could watch this place while the rest of us follow the riders?"
Carlon scratches his chin in thought. "By the time I could find someone allied with the Harpers and explain the situation we'll lose them. I can stay here and help with the distraction for Jamna while you follow," he says.
Other than the group that has already left, and is getting further away, Akira does not see anyone else from the cult coming or leaving through her familiar's eyesight.
OOC: Since Rogram is still away, we can assume he is staying to assist with the distraction.
See my profile for all my PbP threads!
"I can distract," the half-dwarf says, smiling. He casts disguise self on himself once again, this time making himself look like an elderly woman with milky eyes. "Are we ready?"
Once the others — specifically Jamna — are ready, Rogram walks straight at the stable, entering and bumping around. If approached or questioned, he says in a gruff voice pitched higher than his normal tone, "Who's there? I'm looking for my horse. Willow? Willow!" He moves about with his arms outstretched, appearing blind or at least mostly blind.
OOC: Alright, so Rogram, Carlon, and Jamna are staying with the wagons and attempting to plant a ring for Karib. I'm still a little unclear on whether anybody is planning to follow the group that left to the north (it could be that nobody wants to follow that group at all, I just don't want to assume that before advancing further).
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OOC: I'll give it another day for anyone to confirm, and then I'll advance assuming that nobody is following the detail that left to the north.
See my profile for all my PbP threads!
When things seem to be taking shape at the wagons, Karib looks to the others. "I can follow behind you lot, if you want to investigate where they are going."
He purses his lips, "If I lose you, I'll come back here...and if noone's here, meet back at the Drunken Goat?"
(( @DM: I'm not sure if we have settled on any inn or place to stay yet! ))
Merric watches as the team prepares to insert the ring into the wagon with interest, then turns toward the direction of the gate, lips pursed in thought. “This is wise, Karib. A chance to follow them from a greater distance. As long as the treasure doesn’t get split up, we are in business. I don’t think we should split up, though. Not without a better way to communicate. We want to follow the wagons anyway. I wager they will end up wherever the riders are going eventually.”
OOC: just my two cents. I vote for staying together as a group and following the wagons.
Karib nods and seems relieved; he was not at all confident of following riders on foot through the city while in heavy armour and remaining unseen. It was hard enough following his companions last time.
"Yes," he says drawing out the word, "but the range is very limited. Good for a small villiage...but it does give another option. Akira's companion is more likely to help when they are on the move."
“Agreed. We should keep together. I can have my familiar fly casually to keep up with the wagon and gather any intelligence possible.”
Halsen - Human Monk - Winter Splendor
Aradurk - Half-Orc Fighter - Barty's Blade Bizarre
Aradurk - Half-Orc Fighter - Betrayal at Devilsfall
Aradurk - Half-Orc Fighter - Barty's "The Hidden War" (Doom Portals Part 4A)
Aradurk - Half-Orc Fighter - Barty's "The Whispered Word (Doom Portals Part 5)
Garu - Tabaxi Paladin - Barty's "Beyond Twilight" (Rikirta Part 3)
Rogram's entrance to the stable doesn't cause much of a distraction in and of itself - in a city the size of Waterdeep, one batty old woman is far from unordinary. However, the reaction of the guards inside, shouting and swearing as they force the old woman back at spearpoint, causes quite a scene. In the flickering lamplight of the evening, the party sees the shadow of Jamna clamber atop one of the wagons, just long enough to sidle down behind it. Looking around, however, it seems the denizens and travelers in the area are more interested in the guards chasing a blind old woman out of the stables than one wagon among many. Though there are guards near the cult wagons, none of them react in a way to suggest that they are aware of Jamna's presence.
"And there you have it," Jamna suddenly says from behind the party after a few minutes, dusting her hands. "One ring, safely tucked away inside a wagon. Well...safely tossed inside a wagon. They watch those things like hawks, I wasn't going to stick around any longer than necessary." Watching Rogram stumble away from the stables under the guise of the old woman, she chuckles. "Not bad, kid."
With the limited range from her familiar, Akira can track the cultists that left to the north long enough to see that they enter a large warehouse just inside the city's northern gate, before reappearing later in the day.
For Rogram:
Inside the stables, you can immediately tell that the guards are not buying your distraction. Though they don't seem to know exactly what is going on, their suspicions seem raised from the moment you enter. However, unwilling to chance anything with the eyes of the crowd passing by, they simply shout at you to leave, aiming their spears in your direction but not pressing the matter further.
See my profile for all my PbP threads!
Rogram maintains his appearance until he feels he is out of sight. Returning to the others looking like himself, he asks, "Did it work?" When they say that it did, he beams.
"OK, so what about the other group? Is everyone still in town? Should we try to get jobs with the caravan again, or do you think they're on to us?"
OOC: We're slowing again, so I'll advance to the next day while we await further input. We can assume the group found some comfortable lodging in Waterdeep for the night without having to RP it.
In the morning and afternoon, more groups of cultists leave for the warehouse near the northern gate, returning shortly thereafter. "Looks like they're done with resting," Carlon remarks as the group shows signs of outfitting their wagons for travel. Another pair of wagons enters the district soon after, each being pulled by a pair of massive draft horses. "Those aren't no merchant wagons," Jamna says. "And look at that on the side, that's the seal of Lord Neverember. I wonder if they know they're working with the Cult of the Dragon," she thinks aloud.
"You all had much better success than I did getting this far, so I'll lean on your expertise," Carlon says. "How do you think we should follow them?"
See my profile for all my PbP threads!
Merric squints in the afternoon sun, taking in the sight of the new wagons entering the yard. “I don’t think we will stand a chance joining as guards this time. They already have enough of their own. I would like to take a look at the warehouse they have been visiting by the northern gate. See what we can find there. We could use the ring to find the wagons later if they leave.” He turns to Karib “How close to you have to be to the ring to make your magic work?”