"Hmm. I will speak with the guards and see what they might not be sharing with the group, technically I am one of them." Rael Smiles at the older woman. Looking around at the people assembled here he continues "Im not much familiar with spells and such so I'll leave that to the more capable of you all. Need something dead" He winks towards Tragedy "then I'm your man." 

Antoine is unable to identify specifically to which spell those would serve as material components, though he is able to discern that for certain they would be appropriate for a powerful Cleric spell.

And are any of your supplies missing  or have you managed to thwart the theft soon enough? The thieves might try to steal your stuff again. We might be able to use this to our advantage.

Tragedy looks closely at the contents of the bag until Mithann closes it. She wonders how valuable the materials are, and what the spell will likely be used for.

Check: 10

Tragedy then nods, acknowledging Rael. "I'll go talk to some of the others and see what information I can find," she says, before trying to locate Cornelius.

Tragedy has no idea what those would really be used for, though through experienced acquired by her background, she is absolutely certain those would be valuable if not powerful.

Mithann nods at Saeni "I've managed to prevent them from getting their goal, yes. Brought the sack close to me and I've been hugging ever since, didn't even manage to shut my eyes in the last few nights." then she smiles awkwardly, "Listen, I'd rather not attract the Cult's attention into you, for the very task I present you now would be compromised if they suspected we're in any sort of agreement." she rises up from the circle, gathers whatever gear she had left laying around and hurriedly says "In fact, this meeting has gone on long enough, I must be off. Please, consider what I've said and find out what you can. We may talk briefly again when the caravan stops for the night, I have my own discussions to have before then." she gently touches her sun-shaped brass amulet, closes her eyes and nods "May the Eternal Sun shine upon you." she attempts not to cut you off abruptly with a polite smile, but hurries off towards the center of the caravan to walk among others in the long line that begins to form again, hoping to not draw suspicions towards your group.

The eleven wagons and all the travelers are all spread over the road and on the move once more in no time after a sharp whistle is sounded. The faces of all travelers now shine in a new light for you after the revealing conversation. This new observation of your traveling companions shows you the caravan at a glance:

• The caravan master Ignazio Gallo owns a total of six wagons near the front of the caravan, with several commoner servants driving them and performing other duties (grooming, feeding the beasts, cleaning, preparing food, etc.). Four guards join him at the front and two at the rear, they bear the colors of Luskan's Ship Rethnor (black ship over crimson and brown field).
• Following is a reserved nonbinary elf driving a covered wagon.
• On the next one rides what looks like an old male human priest, by the ceremonial cloth draped over his winter clothing and the proudly displayed coin-shaped amulet. He seems to be served by three commoners and a personal guard wearing a gold and white tabard. He is also accompanied by what seems to be a young male human noble.
• Nearby riding a particularly groomed horse comes a bald middle-aged human male with regal garments and a proud pose.
• Behind that follows a pale human female with a rather serious look about her, driving her own wagon with trade goods methodically organized and folded.
• The priestess Mithann also walks nearby, hugging her leather sack closely and looking at the others nearby nervously.
• Following the caravan on foot nearby is a rough-looking human male with a rather unfriendly demeanor (that's Cornelius that Tragedy had the pleasure of meeting before).
• After that comes a scholarly looking young human female riding a horse at the side of her wagon, driven and tended by three other commoners of similar ethnicity, clearly not from around (that's the Danai Ndidi that Saeni had been talking to and sharing a wagon).
• A young couple made of a rather good-humored looking human male and a dour-faced human female follows closely afterwards.
• Nearby comes a young human male with a nervous look about him, accompanied by a draft horse bearing his gear.
• At the rear of the caravan, two human males of different ethnicities who clearly form a couple drive their wagon with a tired or worried look about them.

The following day Rael will casually talk to any of the other guards he happens to be near. Things like "Had a hard time sleeping last night, seemed to be a lot of people up and around", "Do you actually think the Frostmaiden is causing all the bad weather up here?", "This the first time I've traveled this far north, how about you?" Just trying to see if anyone will chatter a bit too much. 

((I get that the lack of sunlight can be disorienting to time-keeping, but it's barely afternoon. 😅 I'll interpret Rael has done that after the lunch talk with Mithann, ok?))

As you approach one of the guards—a straw-colored hair rugged fellow, wearing chain and the colors of some of the Ships from Luskan—they first regard you suspiciously, but open up a bit more as you share the hardships of your journey, "Uh, yeah... The camp seems quiet enough at night, but all of this fog, wind, and snow, makes the mind wander, you know? It's probably nothing, shouldn't worry too much." another guard—an auburn-haired lass with short-cropped hair wearing the same gear as the other guards—comes closer and shares "Shh! You shouldn't be speaking her titles out loud. It's bad enough for us that we don't actually have a road to head back home, let alone be drawing that sort of talk in here." she makes a sort of sign with her hand on her forehead, probably from a local faith you know little of. The first guard chuckles at the other's superstitions "Well, every precaution sounds useful right now. I've made my share of trips to Ten-Towns before, and not in one of them the journey was any easier than the last." he puts one hand over your shoulder, "We oughta keep this caravan safe easily enough, though, eh? I've seen what you can do with that thing back in Luskan." he points towards your bow.

During the afternoon, Saeni tries to get close to the human pair ((3rd point form the bottom)), and start a conversation. Good day to you, I don't think we had the pleasure of getting introduced during the journey. I am Saeni and this is Mr. Paws. It is my first time here in the north but everything here is so fascinating. Haven't seen so much snow in my whole life. And neither has Mr Paws. Says she cheerfully, while Mr. Paws plays in the snow. Is this your first visit too?

As Saeni approaches the couple, the young male regards her warmly and friendly, while his girlfriend's face turns into a scowl as she tugs him closer to her, "Oh, hello Saeni! And hello to you, Mr. Paws!" he scratches the little beasts head for a moment and smiles, "Fascinating, eh? I'd rather be enjoying the warm beaches of Tethyr, but the things you do for a lass, huh? Hah!" as the girl besides him lightly elbows him in the ribs and stays silent while he laughs, "Don't mind her, name's Gerard, she's Ionna, pleased to meet you." he holds out his hand for a friendly handshake, "First time here, yes. We're visiting her grandmother in Dougan's Hole, though it seems from the trail back there that we might be for a while. You seem rather cheerful for someone stuck in this nice piece of weather, no?" 

Tragedy decides to approach the nervous-looking human male. (Second last point) She stays a bit away behind him for a while, observing his behaviour. Then, she casts thaumaturgy, creating the noise of ominous whispers from a point just past him, just loud enough for him to hear them, but so that he cannot make out any words over the sound of the wind. She then hurries up to him. "Did you hear that?" she asks quietly, in a conspiratorial tone. 

The young man jumps at Tragedy's magical whispers with a cry "Ah!" clearly startled, he stares at you wide-eyed, "Y- yes I heard it! What was that?" he proceeds to look all about him, trying to pierce the fog and snow around to catch a glimpse of whatever might be following him now. He takes a few moments to compose himself enough, but you see his hand instinctively going to cover the flap of one of the bags carried by his draft horse to the side. After not hearing anything else for a moment, he calms down enough and says "This land is cursed, that much is certain. It feels like one's being followed all the time." 

Saeni shakes Gerard's hand and tries to shake Ionna's. Yes it gets cold a gloomy here. We don't have such weather back home, so the folks back there won't believe the stories I'll bring. I can already see the faces of the village kids begging me to tell them about all these hills of snow.

So you are from Tethyr and Ionna is local? The story of how you two met must be an interesting one.

Gerard tries to laugh it off awkwardly when Ionna refuses to take Saeni's hand, "Oh, no, I'm from Cormyr, but I've been around a lot. Running away from bad luck is actually what made me run into my good luck charm right here." he hugs a still scowling Ionna, who only looks to the side and remains silent, "And she's from the 'Shaes." he turns back to you, "What about you? What brings you so far up north?" 

I am visiting someone in the Bryn Shander. He is a cousin of my auntie Sally. And he is considered one of the bravest halflings in my home, because he was brave enough to leave its safety and travel the world. Well I suppose I am now the bravest one too, aren't I Mr, Paws? Mr. Paws stops catching the snowflakes for a while and stares at Saeni Inquisitively.

((Shaes == Moonshae?))

Gerard nods and smiles at Saeni's reasons, "Is that so? I guess we can agree everyone who comes over here is either very brave like you say, has something important to do... or is just a little bit crazy!" he laughs.

((You can ask any more questions to the NPCs you already got to know, or try to strike up conversations the others among the caravan (see "Caravan at a Glance"). If you feel the group's investigation has been enough, let me know and I will fast forward to the night.))

Quote from Cyrasil >>

((Shaes == Moonshae?))

 
((Oh, and yes, I had that in the post and somehow managed to delete it xD. You do get the feeling he means the Moonshae Isles.))

"I certainly agree," Tragedy replies the young man, with a look over her shoulder as if she were also frightened. "Tragedy is my name, and unfortunately it seems to be chasing me, although maybe that's my own fault for travelling to these parts. And you are...?" She pauses, allowing him to introduce himself.

Gerard nods friendly at you, "Oh, I didn't see you there... Tragedy. I'm Gerard, this is Ionna, and we're all stuck in this tragic weather, eh?" he laughs alone while also taking a look over his shoulder to try and catch a glimpse at whatever you looked at, "Oh, boy." Ionna elbows him on the ribs lightly, "Anyway... Other than chatting, can we be of any help?" 

((Woops, sorry Firexx, mixed up the conversation groups. Let's just say Tragedy passed by to say hi while on her way or just ignore the post above.))

The young man starts to stick out his hand for a moment to greet Tragedy. You see the calloused hand of someone who uses them for work, though he hesitates and suddenly pulls it back and you hear a jingling of metal under his clothes, "Oh! Well, that is... unfortunate, Tragedy." he pulls the hand to the back of his neck as if it was what he intender all along to scratch his head, "Heh. Oh, name's Edgar Prospero, I'm from Baldur's Gate but family's from Tethyr, pleased to meet you. I, uh... Lost my job back home and ended up having to come all the way here in search of new opportunities." his hand quickly goes back over the bag on the back of his mule.

Tragedy asks the people she is talking to about whether they have seen anyone doing anything suspicious, or if they suspect anyone could be the rumoured traitor.

(I'm just assuming that the conversations happen one after the other; she'd use the same sort of script)

If she sees a good opportunity, she also tries to distract Edgar again using the same spell. If he looks away, she tries to peek at what is in his bag.

(Slight of hand check if necessary: 10)