Karib glances around at the sound of Kano's foot-tapping, and snorts, then turns back to Nessim shaking his head, "My friend is right. I like to be methodical, but not today: A life is in danger! Perhaps be brief -- if there's anything else you can add. Otherwise, we should leave."

The brow of the young man creases, "There is not much more to add. Also, Master Lesona only dragon folklore and we only studied the actions of the cult from ages past. From what I know, this is the first time we have come into direct contact with them. Do you truly think they knew she was here, let alone who she is? If that is the case, please do not spend more time than necessary preparing."

"As I said before, the town's armoury is yours to restock any ammunitions or simple weapons. Blessings upon you all." Governor Nighthill confirms, and the sentiment is echoed with the others finishing their research nearby. 

Here you are free to prepare for the search with the town's services at your disposal, this can be done here IC or in the OOC PM.

If anyone is taking up the governor's offer, that can be just done in OOC chat just stating what simple equipment/weapons/ammo you'll be taking.

Kano:

Set for mundane supplies, Kano attempts to be more patient as the others get ready, then heads out to the edge of town the cultists were seen leaving from to help pick up the trail.

(Ready!)

(( If there's a set of Tinkers Tools (expensive, so maybe not), a weeks rations, and another rope, Karib would grab them...and a full set of plate mail would come in handy too (just saying) ))

(Ready!)

(( Edit: hold off on the Plate mail ;-) -- he's not strong enough -- might need to be mithral... ))

Tengar

[Well full plate sure! haha]

Tengar nods at the generosity of the governor and takes advantage of it, restocking some supplies he has used in the past to create havoc and mayhem for deserving souls.  "I am also ready to leave.  My heart beats for the memories my queen will reap from these cultists."

Burra thanks the governor for his generosity, turning away most of the offered goods aside from another quiver of arrows. In town, he exchanges an old idol and nearly all of his gold for a set of studded leather armor, tailored for one of his stature. Perhaps an unwise move, but Burra valued material goods more than the promise of wealth found in money. He then wings it to the specified area of departure, affirming his preparedness to find the cultists!

With all preparations felt to be met, the party leave the town of Greenest westwards; the direction the dragon departed the previous night. 

The rolling hills are picturesque. Once past the farmsteads surrounding the town, a bit of height provides a view of the hills as tumbling textures on a sheet of green brightened by the morning sun with a large forest looming with its sharp, deeper greens to the north-west.

Plain in the sun, you all notice the gathering of tracks that have trodden the ground into a muddy streak. With no obvious diverges, the cultists and their creature minions went the way they arrived. Scattered among the tracks are a scattering of items dropped or discarded; some shattered vials, a musty sack, a few blunted and pot lid are a small list.

After walking most of the day, you arrive around a turn and discover a wisp of smoke snaking towards the calm afternoon sky.

How do you proceed?

Kano:

"I don't think we are far enough west for that to be Beregost," Kano says, thinking about the map they had seen and considering what towns might be in danger from the cultist force.  "Does anyone know these parts well enough to know what that smoke might signify?  We should pick up our pace to see if there are innocents in need of our help," he suggests.

[Is the wounded assistant with us?  I didn't think he'd come?]

Tengar 

The half orc sniffs the air and smells the tell-tale sign of trouble riding on the wind.  He looks to the skies and surroundings - any ravens or crows? Any sounds of pain? Forest/cover nearby? (Perception - 19)
He turns to the group, "I suggest we make our way cautiously - maybe with some cover to mask our approach?" He nods to the forest.  "Let us use the environment to best effect, no use opening ourselves up to a larger group if we don't have to.  Let's assess then act.  What say you?"

Karib wraps the stolen cloak more closely around him, and moves off the road, using available cover where possible. His senses tuned for anything unusual.

Perception: 15 (passive 16)

Stealth: 13

(using the guidance boon from earlier)

Pimster adds, "It could also be a rear-guard watching for any pursuers, like us. I recommend the stealth approach, and coming at it from a different direction than this obvious path. I am small and comfortable moving about the wilderness, plus I can blend in pretty well!" he finishes with a big grin. He casts guidance on himself and whoever else will be joining him.

(If agreeable for Pim to also scout ahead: Stealth: 12 == Perception: 7 Passive=16!!)

Karib will happily settle off the road, and in the underbrush while those more agile scout ahead and around.

Kano:

Kano will move ahead with the stealth group. Though he is not highly trained in perception, he does have some skill in remaining unseen.

Stealth:  7

Perception:  11

OOC:  Of course, when you roll a 2....

"Scouting is a specialty of mine. Perhaps I should be the one to gain a bird's eye vantage on the smoke."  Regardless, Burra elects to join the scouting mission from a higher vantage point, taking to the canopy of the trees to scout ahead. "Traveler, grant me solidarity in these strange times," the Cleric mutters in Auran, gliding swiftly - and surprisingly silently - from tree to tree. 

Blessing of the Trickster + Guidance:
Stealth - 22
Perception - 18

Quote from Scott_R_Simmons >>

Kano:

Kano will move ahead with the stealth group. Though he is not highly trained in perception, he does have some skill in remaining unseen.

Stealth:  7

Perception:  11

 

OOC:  Of course, when you roll a 2....

Stepping on every branch and leaf he can find, Kano gives up and stays back with the not-stealthy bunch after several minutes of bumbling around near his quieter companions.

Tengar

The half-orc is about to try to sneak but thinks better of it.  Not my strength, he thinks to himself.  Instead, he readies a javelin and watches for danger.  And waits with the others for Burra to return...
Perception - 22

Tengar quickly recognises the smoke to come from a small controlled fire; a campfire. To fair bit away to the north, you notice a several dark specks dance about the tops of the trees of the forest, showing a healthy crow population. In the skies just above you, you see a pair of ravens  weave around each other before landing roughly 10ft. nearby. 

You all notice the forest is too far to use for cover, but heading in the direction will probably work as a diverted route to avoid the owner of the campfire. 

Karib doesn't sense anything unusual. He can just make out the owners have split into two groups around the campfire; larger humanoids and smaller ones.

Kano seems keen to join, but a couple of early stumbles are taken as a sign of future progress and stays back with the half-orc and the human.

Burra and Pimster scout on head; the halfling taking shade in some nearby sprouting of trees, while Burra sees from the same tree tops. A gathering of four cultists with eight of their kobold minions have taken shelter in the shade of a large boulder. The campfire is cooking several whole poultry birds; kobolds doing tender work while the humans lounge and laugh quite loudly, most probably at last night's events. 

In the light of day, you notice the garb of these cultists are lacking any uniform.

Burra would notice, in their relaxed mood, the humans have put their weapons a fair bit away from their persons. 

Karib will quietly pass on that they have split into two groups, but continue doing his best to hide off the road, waiting for the return of the scouts.

Tengar 

The half-orc stares intently at the ravens, trying to discern if they're a sign from his deity.  "Why now you're pretty to my eyes, little ones," he gently coos to the birds.  He'll break off a piece of ration and throw it to the birds.

Hearing Karib, Tengar snorts.  "They're mortal they need to eat and rest.  Maybe we should wait until it's dark?  We'll need to keep at least one or two for questioning.  We should see what the bird and little one found out first," Tengar nods to Burra and Pim above.