laid back apocalypse

(Get it, Xalkas was a good match. *Explosion gesture*
.... I was proud of it.)

"Would you rather I do it?" Ebele would smile towards T'chal'fronack'zcinicker's approaching footsteps. She'd 'help' anyways.

Soon after she'd hear her beary good bearlift, Hawke had returned to his humanoid self. The half-elf was relieved when he'd grace the space with the smell of fresh linen. She'd indulge in the scent for a good moment.

Ebele would hear the familiar voice of Reghys once again. This time they were coming closer. She truly wasn't imagining things. They truly were present, antics and all. It brought a smile to her face. "Good to have you join us Reghys." Though, at their prompt about any evidence of what they were looking for, she'd give a sheepish smile. "Papers burn to ash, but people spoke truth when asked." She'd gesture to the commoners inside the Great Hall whom were questioned. And Grimjaw said some things too when talking with T'chal'fronack'zcinicker.

The monk would eventually get back to it, searching through their crispy companions to pull out anything that survived the fire. She'd toss them in apparent random directions, creating rough piles of things for the tiefling. He'd find no rhyme or reason to her itemization except she really wasn't familiar with what was what coin, and if it was a coin at all. She gave more of the sense of a raven tossing shiny things at him.

Experience

Patrols Cleared: 400xp
Rivergarde Keep Cleared: 800xp
RP Bonus XP Granted: 300xp

Total XP Granted: 1500xp
Per Player: 250xp
(Must be added yourselves)

Monies

Reash: 70gp 12pp
Cultists: 21gp 4pp 37cp

Pile of Goods

6 x Agates (10gp each)
4 x Chain Shirt (Damaged Condition)
2 x Sharktoothed Longsword (Damaged Condition)
2 x Shield (Damaged Condition)
1 x Javalin (Damaged Condition)
1 x Scimitar (Damaged Condition)
1 x Dagger (Damaged Condition)

Kerric:

”We should sweep the rest of the keep for any more cultists, then inform the prisoners that they are now truly free with their oppressors vanquished,” suggests Kerric.  

“Once they are on their way to safety and freedom, we can then continue our search for the delegation,” he suggests.  Kerric moves to start the sweep of the keep as he suggested unless others have another course of action to recommend.

If the commoners they met in the main tower vouch for the others who remain, Kerric suggests they all gather together in the main keep with the two bound captive cultists (the previous one and the one currently unconscious at Kerric’s feet) while the keep is cleared.  

“Would someone like to stay with the freed commoners and guard the two captive reavers while we ensure the rest of the keep is secure?  Perhaps learn more about what happened here and any other useful information?” asks Kerric.  Smiling and looking at T'chal'fronack'zcinicker, he adds, “I’m sure they will need proper processing and documentation for their liberation and journey back to Womford.”

T'chal'fronack'zcinicker frowns at Kerric's suggestion, "I would think that there will be numerous more items to catalog as you complete your sweep. I could not imagine possibly staying behind and leaving that task up to someone else. Besides, my ledger is quite up to date. If you stay ahead of this type of work, it really isn't that much work you know.  Perhaps if we tie up the reavers, the commoners will be able to watch over them easily enough.  Or perhaps Reghys might like to interview them. He's more the talker than I am. The sweep shouldn't take that long.  By the way, Xalkas, you'll be happy to know we've found sufficient funds to pay off your party debt.  As such, I will now divvy up coin to each of you. This is only the result of the coin obviously. The other loot must be sold before we can award that.  And of course we may decide that using the scroll of haste or of wall of water might be more valuable in function that as coin." 

Xalkas receives :  65 gold, 8 silver.

Everyone else receives:  234 gold, 8 silver, 2 copper. 

Kerric:

Raising his hands in surrender, Kerric says, “As you wish,  let us get them settled and catalog away.”

"Why don't Prince Charmin', Belle, and I get a head start on the snoopin' about?" Hawke asks after another snap of his fingers. "Don't need all of us here for questionin' and... documentation, anyhow. We'd get stuff done faster! I'll even put my Boys Scouts knottin' badge to good use and tie up those reavers for ya before we head off!"

Reghys winks at T: "They. But yes, I'm happy to question the prisoners, I think I might be able to persuade them that helping us might be in their best interest too. Where is the other one though?"

T'chal'fronack'zcinicker gives Reghys a thumbsup, "They. Yes. Right. Good good."  Then he nods to Hawke, "Yes, excellent, good idea."  He makes to follow the druid.  Perhaps......he thinks he's prince charming?  

Xalkas gives a satisfied smirk watching the water cultist’s reavers fall from his near perfect placement of his second fireball. Xalkas is grateful that his teacher made him spend so much time manipulating magic energy to have it avoid people he didn’t want to cause harm. It’s certainly been very useful so far.

(Should Xalkas have been able to hear T'chal'fronack'zcinicker he would have let out a small silent chuckle. And nod in agreement with Ebele’s perfect match comment)

Xalkas thanks Hawke for covering up the awful smell from his handiwork. The smell of fresh linen is much more enjoyable than the smell of singed flesh. He thanks T'chal'fronack'zcinicker for his share of the coins and stashes them in one of his pouches. He makes a comment about the spell scrolls potentially being useful, though if the group has need of the money they could be sold. He offers to sit with the rescued commoners and bound prisoners, though he looks a bit banged up from all of the recent kerfuffle.

After having tied up the reavers, the Druid gives Xalkas a pat on the shoulder with a grin wide on his face. “Killin’ it out there, Gnomeo. You deserve a good rest.”

Cure Wounds 2nd lvl: 13

Hawke then begins to move in the direction of K8 (assuming we haven’t been there before?), only stopping when he notices T’chal coming along. “Er, sorry, Snickers, I meant,” Hawke points to Kerric. “Got that Prince Charmin’ look, ya know? Tall, handsome… Not that you’re not handsome yourself! I just think Snickers fits ya more. Besides, I think you’d be better with helpin’ Twinkles in questionin’ the commoners n’ such. You got a way with words~“ He wiggles his fingers. 

T'chal'fronack'zcinicker looks back at Kerric, "Hunh? Oh...ya, sure, I'm goin with you lot all the same."  

He continues following.

Reghys beams a smile at Hawke: "Twinkles? I LOVE it!"

Xalkas gives Hawke a pleasant smile, “I’m glad you’ve decided to join us.” Then quietly to himself after Hawke walks away with the group to finish exploring. “Though I’m not entirely certain of your motivations.”

Xalkas would take the time while the rest of the group explores to make progress transcribing spells into his spellbook. (I’ll need to look later and see which ones I still need to add to it. Does the scroll get used up after transcribing? Or could it still be used/sold?)

Ebele would accept her share from T'chal'fronack'zcinicker, testing the heft of it before putting it away. She'd stride, sway, spin, shimmy and shake seeing how stealthy she could seem, swooping up someone and sweeping off with 'shining prince charming'.

Ebele Stealth: 19

The monk didn't want to spend the rest of their day snooping through the whole place. "You both go left, we go right!" She'd tug Kerric along while sending T'chal'fronack'zcinicker and Hawke the other way with a sweet smile. "The other's, out of sight!" Ebele would encourage Reghys and Xalkas to go back inside for their discussions with the commoners.

The Argent Alliance splits up once again.

Xalkas and Reghys
(Providing a summary so Reghys can be updated and they can ask/discuss anything they'd like. Roll any persuasion/deception/intimidation as you feel necessary for any of the coversation.)

Xalkas and Reghys would find the commoners gathered together wondering what was happening next. They had tidied up the mess of the flipped table, sifted through food scraps, organized charred remains by 'family' and swept remaining wood and ash into a pile.

Xalkas remembers the conversation back with Gimjaw and T'chal'fronack'zcinicker:

"We were just the middle men on that one." The man would shrug. "My men mentioned something about the Black Dirt people..." Something twinged in Xalkas' scholarly mind Earth, not Dirt... "They snatched the group just short of the Summit and like the gentlemen that we are, we escorted them across the river. After some bartering, of course." The big man would stroke his beard with pride before letting some snorts slip. "Though rumours have it they got ambushed by the Sky Peeps on their way back to base!" Xalkas' eye would twitch, Air. Jolli's laughter was large and echoed in the hall once more.  After he'd settle, he'd glance back to the servers doors before looking back. "We fill our bellies while they duke it out!" His hand pats and then rubs his belly.
From <https://www.dndbeyond.com/forums/d-d-beyond-general/play-by-post/75076-laid-back-apocalypse?page=112>

And his conversation with the commoners a little earlier:

”We know nothin’ aboot the missin’ delegation. We not privy to any of their plans.” Anya would say, pursing her lips.
From <https://www.dndbeyond.com/forums/d-d-beyond-general/play-by-post/75076-laid-back-apocalypse?page=116>

Nayreen would nod her head to him, then look to the knight. "If you'll take us with you..." She'd then side step away from a secret door. "It's not an underground lair... but it leads to a hidden boat landing...(K22)" The woman would shift a little timidly.
From <https://www.dndbeyond.com/forums/d-d-beyond-general/play-by-post/75076-laid-back-apocalypse?page=116>

And Kerric and T'chal'fronack'zcinicker's investigation below:

Downstairs
It’s definitely very dank down there. The water was dark and murky. Besides darkness to the west, and light to the east, there was nothing for Kerric to report.
From <https://www.dndbeyond.com/forums/d-d-beyond-general/play-by-post/75076-laid-back-apocalypse?page=116>

There are no hidden doors on the walls or floors. Those downstairs would be able to return to the main floor where the prisoners were busying themselves with tidying up.
From <https://www.dndbeyond.com/forums/d-d-beyond-general/play-by-post/75076-laid-back-apocalypse?page=116>

Searching Parties
(While Reghys and Xalkas review with the commoners...)

Kerric and Ebele begin their journey by going back through the Chapel to see if there's anyone who's stumbled upon their carnage while Hawke and T'chal'fronack'zcinicker check out the door before them.

Map Update

Perception/Investigation Checks
(RP how you're doing your sweep, what you're paying most attention to and if any specific area/room that 'speaks' to you. Both passive and active rolls will be considered with your RP here.)

Roll Call: Everybody! <3

T'chal'fronack'zcinicker follows behind Hawke. His paranoia set on edge for seemingly no reason, he, unfortunately spends most of his time paying attention to the druid man trying to suss out any suspicious behavior.   Insight: 21

Otherwise, once they get into rooms, he watches Hawke for a bit, before poking around himself. He looks for chests and other containers that might hold things of value for him to add to his ledger.  Rooms K6 and K7 are most interesting to him, as they're inside the castle proper, while the other spots are just stables and towers where guards would stay.  Perception: 7

His mind wanders a bit as they return to the main keep, "Think that underground river goes anywhere Hawke?"

Seeing that T'chal was keen on tagging along with them, the druid gives a shrug and continues. "Ah, that's fine then. More eyes! Since we're lackin' some." He laughs at his own stupid joke, and turns, ready to get some snooping on. Until he realizes Ebele had chosen a partner and sauntered on off with Kerric, leaving the left side of the keep to be searched by the tiefling and him. "Welp...  guess you're stuck with me, eh?" He turns his head to give T'chal a grin and a thumbs up. "Let's find a buncha stuff!"

The druid leads on, seemingly unaware of T'chal's acute gaze on him. The most the tiefling can tell at this moment is that Hawke is very excited at the prospect of looking around the keep for things they could use or sell, or any clues in finding the missing delegation. During their searching, he even tries striking up some conversations with the man, asking questions like, "How many copper pieces do you think would fit in this room?" and "What is the color of a mirror?" Had he tried looking more into these questions, he would realize they were just questions to think about, get the mind going, and keep a conversation up too.

No area goes unlooked by the druid! Even if the tiefling wasn't too interested in searching the areas that didn't look to have much, you never know if you'd find a loose floor board, or a moveable brick in the wall that revealed a key! 

Perception: 25
Investigation (if needed too!): 4

Afterwards, as they head back to the main area and T'chal asks his own question. "Ooh, askin' me questions now are ya?" The druid gives a light chuckle, then furrows his brows a bit as he thinks of an answer, cupping his chin. "Hrm... Probably? All rivers lead somewhere, right? To a lake, the ocean... I mean, we could check it out if ya want, or I can turn into a fish or somethin' real quick 'n find out."

As the druid gets into searching, T'chal'fronack'zcinicker seems to relax a little bit. Maybe he was just being too paranoid. As his older brother always said, "We're not all trying to stab you in the back you know!"  Of course, his brother always carried around a mace....so....there was that.  And half-brother!  If you're asking!  Wait, what?  The color of a mirror, duh...it's obviously......his mind stutters to a halt and then runs in circles for a few moments. What about something that is red, but shiny red, and is reflecting leaves. What color is THAT?  What IS color?!  What we see, or is it deeper than that?!?  Entirely distracted he follows Hawke around thinking way too hard about it.  However he no longer seems obsessively worried about Hawke. 

"A fish you say....hmmmm. Yeah, that's probably the way to go for sure. That'd be great!"

Kerric:

Moving carefully through the keep, Kerric looks for useful items, clues, and treasure, but he spends the majority of his effort making sure Ebele is well taken care of as she accompanies him.

Perception:  24

Investigation:  18

”We have become an effective fighting unit, Ebele, would you say?” asks Kerric, smiling at his companion.

Searching Crews

Hawke would hear the monk snort from his joke as she snuck away. "It's an even amount of seeing eyes on either team!" She'd blurt back before trying the telepathic link with the druid. Purhaps pairing up with Pretty Pops and playing the perceptive peach that you are could help reduce his sussing on you. Ebele would share her thoughts, believing he had it under control.

The blondes head would turn to the sound of Kerric's voice and she'd nod. "I have to agree." She'd smile. "I think the more we familiarize ourselves with each individual's unique fighting style, the better harmony we find as a unit." Ebele would turn her head to face back forward so that she wouldn't veer too much in her walking and remain parallel to the elf's stride. "We all have weaknesses, but we each have our strengths too." She'd then add, "And if I may admit, growing and finding a balance as a team has felt rewarding."

Perception: 18
Investigation: 16

(RPing and rolling while waiting on the conversation crew. Started notes and continue to make notes, it's gunna be a long one, will post all once Nemo and/or Rforrest get a chance.)

Wait, what? Snickers is sus of me?! The druid frowns a bit at the thought, but he comes to the conclusion that sometimes it couldn't be helped. He decided that he wouldn't work too hard on stopping the suspicions. If he tried too hard, then they would get even more uneasy around him! So, he chooses to simply be his usual silly self. They'd get used to him eventually!

"Actually, wait, I can do one better! A croc! I'd be able to keep my eyes out way better than a fish. C'mon. Looks like Belle and Prince Charmin' won't be back for a bit. Need someone to watch out for me." Hawke leads the way to the underground boat landing with the tiefling (hopefully) in toe. Just before hopping in, he turns back and says, "Alright, if I ain't back in, hmm... let's say 30 minutes, then get a search party goin'!"

After a confirmation, he rubs his hands together and dives right into the water, shifting into a crocodile and begins to swim down the river. 

(Not sure if you'd need any rolls so lemme know and I'll edit this post! Let's say he swims for about 250ft before turning back.)

T'chal'fronack'zcinicker follows the man, and watches, impressed as he turns into a croc and heads down stream.  30 minutes?!  That's a long time. He absently wondered how far this croc was thinking of going, but sat down on the floor with his back to the wall and began to check his numerous crossbow bolts, pulling out a stone to sharpen the tips fo the ones he'd recently used.