Initiative
T'chal | PT(S)(DA attack) | Hawke | Kerric (BI) | Ebele | Xalkas | Reghys 

In a swift display of arcane confidence, Xalkas generates a brilliant strike of lightning from his orb. It'd arch its way towards the pirate thug accurately connecting with his coinpurse sending a shockwave through his body. The electricity lit up the immediate area in a vibrant burst, carrying even further across the mist and fog. It was as beautiful as it was terrifying on the receiving end. The thug falls, crispified a la Xalkas.

At one moment Ebele was standing confidently tall over the pair of cultists with Kerric, catching her breath. Then next, she was crouched, huddled defensively next to the boats crates for cover. When the cracking sound reached the monk's ears she snapped into a fight and flight state anticipating a loud crash of thunder to follow. It never came. A bead of sweat dripped down her temple. She'd swallow.

Complete silence falls over the area outside of the gentle rocking of the boats against the docks. Dim light from a few lanterns carry over the mist.

Initiative Ends: Success!
The Argent Alliance defends the docks! The night belongs to you. You may continue your investigations unhindered. All but one cultist river bandit met their demise. He's knocked out at Kerric's feet.

Kerric:

“Ebele, are you okay?” asks Kerric, for the moment more concerned about his friend than their mission or his wounds, “The enemy is defeated, and we remain.”

Once she is reassured, the heavily wounded Elven warrior begins searching the boats and the bodies for clues or treasure, especially alert for any hidden evidence of cult plans.

Perception:  4

Bardic Inspiration adder:  1

Hawke winces at the loud clap of thunder of Xalkas' spell, bringing his gaze towards where it had been cast. Noticing that it ultimately had ended the fight, he relaxes and begins wringing out his salt and pepper locks. "Nice one, Gnomeo." He comments to the gnome.

The druid eventually makes his way over to where Kerric had stood, staying off to the side to let the elf give comfort over to the shaken Ebele. This is the second time he noticed a negative reaction from her when it came to the sound of thunder, at least ones near her proximity. His brows furrow slightly, but they ease up soon enough when an idea comes to mind.

When the elf moves away to look over the area, the kalashtar gives him a pat on the shoulder with some feel goods laced within the touch. "Did good out there. Sorry I didn't do much, ehe..." He didn't hit anything that fight, which was pretty aggravating, but he did some good things (being the heal bot he is) so it balanced it out.

CW on Kerric for 6

Hawke lets the others take care of any questioning or looking around that needed to be done as he shifts himself into a fluffy little kitty and begins to rub himself on Ebele's ankles. He would continuously weave between them along with mew and purr at her in hopes of distracting her, and maybe giving her some form of comfort had she decided to pick him up.

T'chal'fronack'zcinicker swings his loaded crossbow up onto the boxes, scanning the battle only to see it was abruptly over with whatever that blue bright flash and boom was.  He waits a moment, scanning for any bad guys who might just be in hiding, holding his shot.....but after a few seconds he loosens up and stands. He takes the bolt from his crossbow and returns it to his quiver, and eases off the crossbows string.  A big smile on his face he says, "Well....that went about as well as I was thinking it would!"  

He comes out from behind the boxes and moves towards the others. "Kerric, you look like a mess my man. Stop dripping blood over everything, how are you supposed to find anything like that.  Just...just...stop...stop man, go bleed over there for a bit."  

He begins looking around, searching the boats.  Investigation : 18

"When we're about ready, we can rouse that guy, I've got a spell that'll let me maybe hear what he's thinking....if it works....so that could help us get information out of him. Our plan is to pretend to be these guys and sail up to their stronghold?  Well, maybe I'll sniff out a password and key phrase while we're chatting." 

Kerric:

Realizing he is hurting the investigation more than helping. Kerric leaves the dock and goes over to stand on solid ground.  He starts plucking out crossbow bolts with a grunt, then sticking them in the ground below, looking accusingly at his armor where the offending missile weapons had penetrated to damage him.  His blood flowing freely until Hawke comes over and magically closes the wounds as he pulls out the quarrels.

"My thanks, Hawke, we all do our part," Kerric begins as Hawke suddenly changes to feline form and begins to comfort Ebele.  Smiling, he adds, almost to himself, "Yes, we do indeed."

The first voice to hit Ebele's ears were Kerric's, and at his reassurance that there were no other threats she'd relax her stance. "I- I'm okay." She'd breathe. Though truthfully, they should be more worried about him. It sounded as though he was still dripping blood... Then she'd also hear and feel a purry floof shortly after their druid had gone quiet. Pausing abruptly and tilting her head, she couldn't help but chuckle. Hawke's presence had shrunk into what she could safely assume was a kitty from his mews. How could she not smile? "It was an honest mistake. Really, I'm okay..." She'd assure. Of course that didn't stop her from bending over to pick up Petite Pawke. "Uh huh. Yep. This is for my benefit, huh?" The monk would muse as she'd cradle him up partially over her one shoulder to keep a free hand for scritches and maneuverability.

Queue T'chal'fronack'zcinicker. Ebele's jaw would drop when he'd address Kerric, yet it was hard for her to stifle the snort that followed. It was kind of funny, but her face would still soften in empathy for their heavily wounded warrior. She couldn't bandage him up until her last patch job took hold. So even with Hawke's healing, it really was good of T'chal'fronack'zcinicker to 'shoo' him off to rest. She'd smile to herself listening for Kerric to take his seat and tend to himself while the tiefling would begin his investigation.

"Don't forget these crates!" Ebele would point over her shoulder at the crates she had crouched by. Then she'd outstretch her arms for Hawke to walk along her shoulders as she'd 'balance' step her way off the boat. "Let the land lubbers loot!" She'd make way for those with the eye(s) for it, work on their search and investigation. AKA Getting out of the way for T'chal'fronack'zcinicker's inventory.

Shoalar wears a leather belt pouch containing 10 gp, three small malachites, a scroll and a hidden treasure, another valuable gem. Picking pennies from Pete's pouch nets 8gp. Captain and Thug hold 5gp each and the bandits random loose change. Of course they can also be relieved of some of their weapons. The crate Ebele pointed at also held a hidden treasure, a set of bagpipes. A trunk in the deckhouse contains five tomes written in a language only one of you can understand. A large chart on a table in the deckhouse marks the location of Rivergard Keep with a hand-drawn water cult symbol.

Monies:
(Shoalar, Pirate Captain, Pete and Pirate Thug pouches together. Bandit loose change and RP bonus rolled)
Gold Pouches: 28g
Bandit Change: 8gp 13sp 113cp
RP Bonus Gold: 31gp
Total Gold: 64gp 10sp 125cp

Treasure
(Found treasure and rolled mystery treasure)
3 x Small Malachite (10gp each)
5 x Tome (30gp each)
1 x Scroll of Create or Destroy Water
1 x Shoalar Treasure: A gem valued 50gp (58)
1 x RP Bonus Treasure: Vintage Bagpipes (85)

Scraps
(If you want them)
1 x Scimitar (Good Condition)
1 x Scimitar (Damaged Condition)
3 x Dagger (Damaged Condition)
2 x Light Crossbow (Good Condition)
2 x Light Crossbow (Damaged Condition)

Experience:
XP Granted: 1900xp
Difficulty Boost: 125xp
RP Bonus XP: 50xp
Total Party XP: 2075xp

You each receive:
(Must be applied yourself)
Player XP: 345xp

Inspiration!
(Give yourselves a pat on the back for great RP, group work, rolling with the punches and learning with/teaching me, giving this DM her own xp boost. Who says RP doesn't pay off?)
Smash that Inspiration button if you don't have it checked! If you have it checked, and unspent: 'You snooze, you lose!' Don't be shy to use, unless you plan on skimping on your creative quality ;) Cheers!

Kerric:

”Nobody got away, right?” asks Kerric from his seat on a nearby crate.  “Were there any witnesses anyone saw?” he adds, looking around.

” If we think we can keep this quiet and rest for the night, I’ll be ready to sail upriver in the morning, as long as there are fresh apples to be had,” Kerric says, surveying the battle carnage,  “I suppose we could put the bodies on the smuggler boat, disguise ourselves using the cultist clothes, and take the cultist ship to the fort in the morning.”

”Undercover might have worked better with them unsuspecting, but they didn’t give us much choice about the negotiations, though, did they, oh inspector,” Kerric jokes with T’chal, adding in a more serious tone, “Maybe we should contact the sheriff so he can help us get this cleaned up and keep it quiet until after we leave in the morning—there has got to be a back way into the inn so anyone keeping tabs on us for the cultists won’t see us.”

Xalkas would express interest in the scroll containing arcane knowledge as well as the 5 tomes. (Who knows what kind of arcane secrets are contained within. Who can read them anyway?) He would also move over to Ebele at some point at apologize for frightening her with his lightning blast that ended the battle. 

As Pawke gets picked up by the monk, he creates a mental link between the two of them for easy communication on his end. "Oh, yes, absolutely for your benefit. No other ulterior motives." The druid assures with a hint of jest in his tone. It might not have seemed (or sounded) that way, but he did genuinely want to assist in comforting Ebele. It was just a bonus that he would also get pets in the process. Win win for the both of them!

Just as Ebele's mouth went agape at the way T'chal had addressed Kerric, so would his, but he laughs mentally in the end. The fighter did need to hang off to the side and rest, especially after having been the enemies pin cushion during the fight, so he was glad the tiefling had put it as bluntly as he did. It looked like the other took it in good fun anyway. 

The feline druid would carefully walk along Ebele's shoulders and arms when they had been outstretched a curious eyes watches as T'chal handled the majority of the looting investigating. "Remind them they should tie the guy up before we wake him up." He tells Ebele as he bats her hair with his paws. "Get what we can outta him and stuff before we return him and his possy to the sheriff."

When Xalkas approaches his his apology, Pawke curls up on Ebele's shoulder and tries not to eavesdrop in the conversation (had there been any additional talk they wanted to have).

While T'chal'fronack'zcinicker is busy, noting down each damaged weapon, each coin, and the gear, he absently glances up at Xalkas. "Of course. As per the groups official, yet unsigned policy, you may take the scroll on loan from the party if no one else objects. Likewise, the books can be handed over, but as non-magical treasure the amounts will come out of your allotted treasure. And of course, given their obvious value, it far exceeds any current coin.  Given how....egalitarian we all seem to be, I'm sure people will be ok with you being in the 'negative' for a while, assuming you don't depart the group of course until you're even steven!"  He says all this with a smile, and then begins scribbling madly on his ledger. 

T'chal'fronack'zcinicker moves around the party, passing out coins.  

Xalkas:  Gets the scroll, and the 5 books.

Everyone else gets:  35 gold and 3 silver, and 8 copper. 

Everything else gets gently put into the bag of holding. 

With the ledge done, T'chal'fronack'zcinicker does a walk around both river boats. He seems to inspect the decks, and below, and the general sea worthiness of them.  He nods happily to himself. "These will fetch a good price. Though, with one being involved in the mission, who knows if it will survive to be sold, but the other should be pretty easy to sell around these parts." 

He looks over to the wounded Kerric, weighing the options. Finally he says, "I suppose we were here at the Sheriff's behest. He's unlikely to impound the boats due to this coming to violence. Very well. Yes, let's contact him, let him know about the incident, get his help resolving the..ahem....bodies.  If we just toss them overboard they'll go down river, who knows who will find them, and getting enough rocks and rope together to weigh them all down, to make sure they sink, seems like a lot of effort. Then yes, in the morning we can head up river. Though...we still need to talk to this fella.  Let's take him below board, maybe Ebele can work some of her magic to heal him up a bit, and with detect thoughts going, we can interrogate him." 

If no one objects, they'll drag the one survivor down below deck and tie him up.  Then, T'chal'fronack'zcinicker will cast Detect Thoughts and Ebele can heal him up and we can ask him some friendly questions before turning him over to the sheriff. 

Kerric:

Looking down at their friendly druid in cat form, Kerric says, "I suppose you would be the most subtle of all of us to go fetch the sheriff," looking at his shiny but bloodstained armor.  "Would you mind doing that while I stand watch up here?" he adds, moving slowly but with purpose as hefts the bodies (after they were searched, of course) and drops them into the thug boat (assuming we are commandeering the cultist boat).

Hawke’s passive radar assures that the dock area belongs to you. There were no witnesses but the moon. 

As the party around her exchanged conversations, Ebele listened quietly. Before she got too far, she’d start patching up the bandit as suggested. “Speaking of bandits, didn’t Bert or Ernie say something about the cultists always looking and eager for recruits? If we’re going undercover, couldn’t that be our shtick?” The blonde would give the bandit a good smack on the forehead. “WAKEY WAKEY EGGS AND BAKEY!” She’d shout at the guy before skipping off, leaving the rousing man to T'chal'fronack'zcinicker.

”Haven’t you all been looking and asking around for some books?” Ebele would tilt her head. Now that they found some of value, they barely think anything of them? “What language are they in? Try reading some out loud maybe?”

Investigation Check
Roll Call: Xalkas

As the man begins to revive, presuming he's been suitably bound, T'chal'fronack'zcinicker casts his Detect Thoughts (save DC is 12) and begins scanning the man's surface thoughts. "Well, howdy there...what's your name?"  He doesn't try to probe deeper and tries to just stay with surface thoughts.

T'chal'fronack'zcinicker is going to ask questions in random order to throw him off and keep his mind coughing up stuff quickly. Questions he asks: 

"What's your favorite color?"

"Were you all part of the Water cult?"

"Do you like honey in your tea?"

"Is there a password or secret code for entering Rivergard Keep?"

"Who would win a fight between a frog and a kitten?"

"If new recruits showed up at Rivergard Keep, would they be admitted to the cult?" 

"Is there a ceremony to join?"

"What sort of benefits does cult membership provide?"

"Who is in charge at Rivergard keep?"

"Has anyone in the water cult applied for a permit to operate evil operations in this region? If so, who. If not, why not?"

"Who has signing authority for the cult such that I can present them with the appropriate paperwork?"

Reghys was glad that they all got through the fight still left standing. While Xalkas would start to peer overt the scroll, the satyr would cast a glance inside the tomes, just curious to see whether they could read the writing, in the hopes that they had stumbled upon a rare Sylvan tome. Even if unable to read the text, Reghys would spend ten minutes trying to identify the books before them.

Once done, Reghys would speak up about the next plans for them all: "The keep is over thirty miles upriver. I suggest we take rowing in turns and make for the keep immediately. Those of us that need to can rest on the journey and we will be sure to get to the keep before any message about what transpired here. As far as the sheriff is concerned- I'm sure that the authorities won't look too deep into the matter if known elements of the underworld ended up dead. Particularly not if we prod him in that direction through a message from Xalkas..."

The satyr was keen to use their momentum and element of surprise. With the travel ahead of them, there should still be enough time for each of them to get some rest.

Investigation: 9

Xalxas takes some time to examine the books to see what kind of knowledge is contained within. 

Kerric:

Shrugging, Kerric moves to the cultist boat and settles in to rest for a few minutes while the others question the remaining prisoner and deal with the treasure.  He checks his bandages and leans back to rest, sure his allies will call him if he is needed.

Having said their piece, Reghys joins Kerric in the boat, humming a soft melody to sooth the pain. Anyone that listens can also get the benefits of the song of rest.

Kerric:

Staying alert until they get underway and leave the docks behind them, Kerric will drift away into a short nap while Reghys' soft melody is coming through to soothe him.

HD 1:  10

HD 2:  5

Song of Rest:  1 hp

The bandit snorts awake, face lazily looking around. He had a giant handprint on his face. 

"Well, howdy there...what's your name?"
“Who are you?” His eyes would focus on the dapper tiefling when he was asked the first question.
Hue Buttersmooth

"What's your favorite color?"
“Blue.”
Navy

"Were you all part of the Water cult?"
“No.”
Not all of us.

"Do you like honey in your tea?"
“No.”
Tea tastes like dirt.

"Is there a password or secret code for entering Rivergard Keep?"
“No.”
Build me up, build me up, buttercup baby.

"Who would win a fight between a frog and a kitten?"
”Kitty.”
Mew.

"If new recruits showed up at Rivergard Keep, would they be admitted to the cult?" 
”Sure.”
Jolly entertains new recruits.

"Is there a ceremony to join?"
“No?”
We can dance if we want too. We can leave your friends behind. ‘Cause your friends don’t dance, and if they don’t dance. Well, they’re no friends of mine.

"What sort of benefits does cult membership provide?"
”A job.”
Keeps me off the streets.

"Who is in charge at Rivergard keep?"
“A jolly green giant.”
Jolliver Grimjaw, the big man upstairs.

"Has anyone in the water cult applied for a permit to operate evil operations in this region? If so, who. If not, why not?"
”No... Hey man. I’ve been answering all your questions without any issues. Can a man get something to drink around here or somethin’? I’m parched.” He’d mumble and grumble to a halt. 

With silence following her questions, Ebele would shrug. She’d pad over, taking a seat on the ground at Kerric’s feet. The blonde would lay her head back to listen to Reghys’ piece while her hands would absentmindedly pet Hawke. As her lids fall heavy, she’d briefly wonder how long it’s been since he shifted...

Xalkas, you’re able to recognize some of the words. This was written in the same language as the other books. Dwarvish.

Once in Reghy’s hands, they’d able to confirm with certainty that these are the tomes that belong to the delegation. They contained historical accounts of the old kingdom of Delzoun.

T'chal'fronack'zcinicker nods, "Oh yes, you've been quite open, I appreciate the sarcastic answers. You definitely deserve some water."  He tosses him his waterskin.  "One more question for ya. Where'd you find these books?"

T'chal'fronack'zcinicker will follow that question up with "Where is the delegation now?" regardless of the man's answer.

T'chal'fronack'zcinicker is exhausted, but...this is a good opportunity to get some answers, so he presses on as best he can for just a few more questions.....letting his mind just skim the man's surface thoughts for a bit longer. He absently wonders what Kerric is going to decide to do to this guy who tried to kill him.....after the questions are done.