The decision made the group headed back to Greenest to prepare for their trip to Elturel.

The stop was a somewhat emotional one as both Grune and Oraphina opted to stay behind to help the town get back on its feet while the rest would travel on.

While in town Governor Nighill gifted the group horses for their ride to Elturel, as one last gift for their bravery and dedication to the town of Greenest.

Grune turned over the haversack he had found in the cult's lair, offering that it would do the group leaving more good than it would do him.

----------

The journey to Elturel took only six days on horse back, arriving close to sundown on the sixth day.

While approaching the city so close to dark one would expect for the night to grow ever darker as time went on, but the closer to the city the group came the brighter the night sky became; then from a great distance, before even the city could be seen a bright star is seen, then drawing closer the city appears beneath it.

The star hangs above the city like a second sun, its light so bright that the city and its immediate surroundings are illuminated as if it were high noon.

The splendor of the city of Elturel is remarkable, country farmland gives way to a large moat and massive walls with defensive towers all along it, all situated beneath a massive glowing star that sits above the city as like a savior.

The city is situated along a bend in the river Chionthar and has two massive city gates situated upon the wall one on the northwest and northeast, that lead into the city proper.

-----
O.O.C.
Alright I have condensed a lot of time into one post, if there is anything anyone wants to say or do before reaching the city let me know.

The haversack that Grune gives the party is a Handy Haversack, it is full of odd nick-nacks that are of no real value, unless you are an eclectic kobold.

I stopped the post here to give everyone a chance to get something in if they want before throwing you all into the next big plot points.

Sorry for the delay but have had things going on in my life that I have been dealing with.
This message was last edited by the GM at 06:24, Fri 02 Sept 2022.

Hope's return to town was a quiet one, stewing over what she had seen. With her original armor on now, she had the dragon armor in her pack, figuring it could be used again if needed.

When they came to town, the woman set about selling her hand crossbow, and brought more throwing daggers, finding them more convenient. When she heard the dwarf and halfling were going seperate ways, she had mixed emotions. Grune was gruff, but a good dwarf none the less. But she had known him a short time.

Fina was another matter.  The halfling had saved her, and was like a motherly sister to her. She enjoyed picking on her as much as relying on her wisdom, and showed genuine emotion when they seperated.

---

The six days travel on horse was not one she enjoyed - she hated horses, but reconized the need for speed, so said nothing.  She spent the nights talking with Einar and Korym of small things, and took watch when needed.

The sixth day, she looked at the city with a frown. "Personal sunlight all the time - a bit much" She muttered.

---

<OOC: The only thing i want to do is sell my hand crossbow and bolts and buy daggers

Korym, i am happy for you to take the haversack>

It was infact a very rough stop as he wasn't expecting to lose Oraphina, he quite like the little halfling ball of sunshine that had been assisting them over the last few weeks.

In town he had little to do other than wait till they could head out and heal up after the beatings he continued to receive every time he fought. He didn't like the horses they had been gifted and well things still had to be done so off they went to Elturel.

It was a long six days but it didn't bother him much as he sat quietly through most of it just focusing on riding onward to the city. "Damn that's intresting, it's a shame our Friends arn't here to see it I bet they would of liked it.  Yes well I do like the night as well but I can also see the appeal."

Korym was surprised by how happy he was to return to Greenest, perhaps it was because he was still alive! But perhaps it was because this little village that had been sacked had caused a fundamental change in his life.

While he still looked forward to returning to Silverymoon, he knew that his perspective had been changed irrevocably.

The happiness was tempered when Grune and Oraphina both decided to take their leave of the group to help Greenest rebuild.

"Best of luck to you both, I hope that our paths will cross again." Korym shook hands with Grune and gave Oraphina a hug. "Don't worry," he whispered in the halfling's ear, "I will still get Hope into a lovely blue dress and send you a painting!"

---

Errands in Greenest

• copy Burning Hands from Felosiel's spellbook into his own - 50 gp
• purchase components for two castings of Find Familiar - 20 gp
• purchase a brass brazier - 20 gp
• refill his quiver with arrows
• leave Felosiel's spellbook with Willcott

This message was last edited by the player at 02:56, Thu 08 Sept 2022.

Hope glared at the elf. "Not before i get that dress on you Korym." she muttered

The group made their way through the bustling city streets of Elturel only to find that no one that they asked could lead them, to a one, Leosin Erlanthar; it would seem he was not as renowned as he had let on, but luckily that wasn't the only information the group had to go on.

Ontharr Frume, on the other hand, was a name the people of the bustling town seemed to know. Following the directions given from those they asked, the "headquarters" of the Order of the Gauntlet soon came into view.

A large two-story standalone tavern; from inside loud singing can be heard while out front two men in full plate armor emblazoned with a gauntleted hand holding a sword, stand smoking and laughing with one another, swords sheathed on their hips; and hanging above the door is a large pair of black antlers, that would be out of place on any normal kind of deer.

"That would be A Pair of Black Antlers tavern. Hopefully Leosin will be there."

Korym makes no attempt to enter , instead he waits for Einar or Hope to lead, and follows them.

Hope was a little disheartened at the fact no one had heard of Leosin - though not the least bit surprised....men sometimes held themselves in higher esteem than others.

...but Ontharr, that was a name known, that led them to the headquarters. She looked at Korym as he spoke, and answered in elvish. [Language unknown: "Etpein unekek estet ri inedayich be ienete a iv eiou ecwiin ica wesa."]

She stepped upto the men and looked at them. "Ontharr Frume....is he in?"

Seated at the bar, near the center, is a dark haired woman wearing a striking blood red flowing robe, covering her chain mail, longsword at her hip. Holding a chased silver cup, she converses with a large overweight man with a full graying beard. As the group enters, she looks their way, revealing her dark almond shaped eyes, a small metallic ornamented headband gracing her brow, her pretty face still smiling at something the huge man had told her. Turning back to him, she says in a low amused voice, the twinkle in her eyes showing she is not serious : "Those souls look lost, will you greet them in your customary frightening way?"

The men look the half-elf over for a moment, before one the men speaks up. "Yeah, where else would he be?" he answers half laughing as if it were almost a dumb question.

Upon entering, the inside of the tavern is enormous, larger than most hunting lodges. Upon one of the many tables an elven woman, in rather promiscuous attire stands atop one of the tables dancing and singing a rather raunchy folk song, while playing upon a fiddle; all while a group of almost a dozen men and women sing along with her, a mug of ale in every hand.

Indeed the tavern is not only alive but thriving with activity, men and women of all kinds wandering about, playing cards, dancing, others play darts, there is even a group of adventurer types in one of the corners huddled around a table discussing matters known only to them, and everyone has a mug of ale in their hands and smile on their face; all while bar maids hustle around the establishment hurriedly keeping the alcohol flowing.

---

Ontharr stops laughing at his own joke long enough to lean back on his barstool and peer across the tavern at the newcomers. "Ah fresh meat for the grinder." He says with a smile on his face.

Just as the rotund man was about to stand from his stool, the man to the other side of the lady turns to look. "Ah, sorry to disappoint Lady Prideflare, but these are no lost souls; these are my friends from Greenest, the ones I told you I was expecting... though they seem to be missing a few of their number... Ontharr I think you should hold off on any pranks. Let me go talk to them, see what is going on first." he says as he stands and makes his way across the large tavern.

---

The half-elf Leosin emerges from the crowed, approaching the group. "My friends you made it to Elturel, and looking beautiful as ever Hope... But I notice a few faces missing, nothing bad has happened, has it?"
This message was last edited by the GM at 15:39, Fri 30 Sept 2022.

The human woman gave a second look to the group, eyes evaluating them this time. She would let the half-elf greet them, but her presumed orders were clear and she wanted to know with whom she would have to work. The elf was in simple traveling clothes without any obvious weapon, a sorcerer maybe? There was an aura around the man that spoke of power. The half elf for her part had a leather armor and lots of light blades with her, possibly someone that relied on her agility to fight. The big human was obviously the muscles of the small party and her lips slightly raised... it would be interesting to see well he fought. Well enough, she chided herself, if she could trust the reports coming from the south. Taking a sip of wine, she reminded herself of her oath. If this group was fighting those damned dragon cultists, she would help them do so... and avenge the restless souls of their victims.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:12, Sat 01 Oct 2022.

"Well met, Leosin. Grune and Oraphina decided to stay on at Greenest, the governor will need all the help he can get to rebuild the village, and the two of them are capable of much help.

We accomplished the reconnaissance of the cultist camp, and even more.

We have much to share, is there somewhere...less noisy...we can go to talk?"

Hope looked at the guards with a snort, but said nothing as they entered. in the hall she heard Onthaar and just had a glare. She would have said something had Leosin not said anything.  Taking them a Little apart, she leaned against the wall as he spoke. She had a half smile at the elven male's compliments. "I see you haven't had that silver togune cut out yet Leo...wonder how?"

At the mention of the missing people, she wrinkled her nose, a telltale sign of uncomfort with her.  Grune wasn't much of a loss for her - sure he was a good warrior, but Fina had been a companion with her for a while, and though she would never admit it, she was like a sister.

The half elf nodded. :Their fine....just need a rest and decided village life was too good to pass up." She muttered.

She let Korym do most of the explaining though

Einar leans back as he doesn't quite have any memories of this person at least as of yet since he spent most his time in greenherst. He nods at what Korym says but he personally doesn't mind the noise.

Leosin grins, "now why would the ladies remove my tongue? It's one of their favorite parts of me." He says before switching back to the topic at hand. "And good to hear all is well with our friends, now if you wouldn't mind following me, I would like to introduce you to some other friends of mine, and as it is his establishment he will decide where we go from there." He says leading the way across the tavern to a tall overweight balding man, with a long-braided beard, wearing a suit of full plate that is designed around his large belly. It bears a gauntleted fist holding a sword emblazoned upon the chest piece; and seated next to him is a woman with dark hair and chainmail.

Leosin speaks up first. "I would like to introduce you all to Ontharr Frume and Lady Prideflare, both members of the Order of the Gauntlet. This is Einar, hero of Greenest, Lady Hope, and Kroym, the one whom I'm told does all the work." Leosin finishes with a chuckle.

Onthar rises with a deep belly laugh. "Nice to meet you all! My, look at you Einar, twenty gold on an arm-wrestling contest" he says smashing his elbow down on the bar ready for a match.

"Perhaps some other time, my friends here have requested a more private meeting." Leosin interjects.

Hope looks at Leosin as he speaks and rolls her eyes at him. "Lady, i am not....Quit your fawning!"

She looked at Onthar and nodded in respect for the man. "Knowing him, he may take you up on that, but for now we have some news on some 'pests' of the draconic kind....thought you might like a word about them."

Einar shakes his head, "No thank you I'm not much for contests of strength." He chuckles moving to the side so that they can have their private meeting shortly. "I mean no offense of course I'm just not one for those kind of things as odd as it may seem.

The woman smiled when Leosin introduced her as a lady before shaking her head, hairs flying.  "You should know that flattery does not work on me, Leo. Please call me Saphira. I have had some run ins with dragon worshippers too. ". She looked at the big man before adding "I would be honored to hear of your adventures, once you have rested. Onthar, you are forgetting your manners, you should have already served your best wine to the heroes of Greenest!"

Korym nods to Onthar and Saphira. "A pleasure to meet you." Turning to Leosin, he asks, "Will they be joining us?"

Leosin nods to Korym.

Ontharr's smile fades as his game is thwarted. "Yes I suppose games should wait, though I would have won had it come to it." He says smirking. He then looks to Saphira. "Business first it seems."

He then motions everyone to follow him; he leads the group to the side of the bar and beyond a pair of double doors, which he shuts when everyone is inside. The room is a massive storeroom, barrels, kegs, and wine bottles are stacked from floor to ceiling in row after row, in the center of the room flanked on either side by the alcohol is a long table with ten chairs on either side; sprawled across the table is a massive leather map of the Sword Coast, with several daggers stabbed into it.

Taking a position at the head of the table the paladin's face now wears a serious expression, unlike its usual open countenance. "My friends, we indeed have important business to discuss. At this point you know about as much about it as we do. And now thanks to your saving of Leosin, we know twice as much now than we otherwise would have. Something rotten is afoot. We have no formal organization to oppose these rascals - not yet anyway. We're working on that. And we need people like you, who know how and where to fight, and how and when to keep their heads down and observe. We can't promise you anything except days filled with danger and stress - but what could be better than that, eh?"

"What my esteemed friend here is saying, is we work for organizations we are hoping bring to bare against the cult, and or recruit others to our banner, and to that end you have not only helped us tremendously but also proven yourselves trustworthy and capable, I myself am a member of an organization that you might have heard of called the Harpers." He says pulling back his collar to reveal a pin shaped like a harp nestled between the horns of a crescent moon. "But before we continue, you said you had some new news to share with us?" Leosin says taking a chair and sitting.

Hope listened to the paladin and elf as they spoke, a serious look on her face. She took a dagger out and absently played with it. When Leosin spoke of Harper, she opened her eyes wide. “Harpers…..that is an organisation I have heard of. To be part of that is quite a thing.”

She then looked at Ontharr. “As for this group - we are who we are. If they are against the cult, I will help how I can. Payment..,anything we find when we raid those bastards would be good.”

"Indeed.

When you sent us to observe the canyon hideout, you expected the cult would be sitting tight. That was not the case. When we arrived the main body had already left.

The only people left in the canyon was a group of despicable hunters who were supplying the cult with food. Unfortunately we did not eliminate them.

We entered the cave at the back of canyon as it appeared to be still occupied. We killed some guards, some walking mushrooms, some stirges, a couple of cultists, and quite a number of kobolds.

We also met Langdedrosa Cyanwrath, the half-dragon and so-called Dragonsoul. He was with two men that looked to be Northmen from the Moonshae Islands. We heard them tell Cyanwrath that the shipments promised by their king would arrive in a tenday.

We had to retreat to recuperate, and by then the cult was alerted to our presence, so we returned to Greenest, and then came straight here."

"It seems to me that it would be prudent to raise the alarm with the leaders of the city states all along the Sword Coast. Surely they will want to band together to fight the Cult of the Dragon!?

But, I believe Lady Hope speaks for us all when she says we are at your service."

The woman nodded her head at the tale, all mirth now gone from her eyes. Cyanwrath... I've heard of him, if there is one being that deserves to face Kelemvor's judgement, it is him. I wouldn't mind helping him along the way. But the cult has powerful allies along the Coast, whatever warnings we could give to the cities would get diluted by them until it is not heeded. I think the way to go is to continue to try to decapitate the heads of the cult. The rabble following them would then crumble without leadership. 

Hope looked at Saphira with a smile. "My kind of girl!" She leans forward with a smile. "Trust me when i say that all here, me especially, wouldn't mind bringing that snake's head in a sack for her order and see them run like the rats they are.

Einar snorts a bit at the mention of Cyanwrath, "He won't be so lucky as to face me half dead the next time we fight." He moves to take a seat in one of the chairs in the room relaxing in to it as he does nodding to what Korym was stating.

"I may self have little to add on from what's already been said but I do intend to fight the good fight and deal with these damn cultists. So what's our next step while you make this orginization to stand against them?"

Leosin and Ontharr listen intently to the information. Leosin holds his chin in his hand stroking his goatee as he does.

"Right, so the Cult is calling in more allies than just the Red Wizards of Thay... that's troubling." Leosin says.

"Indeed, who among the Northmen of the isles would seek to serve them?" Ontharr adds.

"Unknown, but we will be looking into it. In the meantime, I am glad to hear you are all on board. And we are raising the call Korym, but so far the cult is a pest at best to the larger players; and our warnings will likely fall on deaf ears until the big purse strings get threatened. But; we Harpers, Order of the Guantlet, and even others such as the Emerald Enclave are working to change that; but we will need more help still. And to that end I would like to offer you all membership in the Harpers, if that is something you would like; I mean it certainly couldn't hurt. We have many operatives, and it never hurts to have friends all across the Sword Coast, who can help you get things done if need be." Leosin says pulling a small box out of his pocket and opening it to reveal several pins, just like his.

Ontharr turns his attention to the map with the daggers in it. "The most likely destination for a caravan as large as theirs would be here." He says pointing to Baulder's Gate on the map. "And given their great lead on us, the only way to intercept them now would be to travel the river all the way to Baulder's Gate. And intercept them when they arrive."

"Yes, and I doubt Baulder's Gate is their final destination; and if I am right then we can get our new friends hired on as caravan guards, and just trail them to their final destination." Leosin says his tone peeking up as he looks upon the map.

"You make a great assumption that Baulder's Gate isn't their final destination Leosin." Ontharr adds looking toward Leosin.

"Think about it, that is a massive amount of loot they're hauling. I'm betting it's a treasure hoard for a dragon, likely payment for some kind of favor or some such. And I don't know many dragons who call the 'Gate' their home, or temples of Tiamat there that would like the kind of attention a caravan of stolen goods would bring them... No Baulder's Gate can't be their final destination. And I bet they're spooked now that I escaped, and many of their number have been slaughtered. So, If I were them, I would seek to hide that hoard, and what better place than in plain sight? I bet they intend to join one of the many caravans leaving the city and hide among them as just some more merchants, no one would be the wiser."

"When did you become intelligent?" Ontharr says laughing, to which Leosin lets a small upward curl form in the corner of his mouth. "When people expect little, you can never disappoint."

Hope listened to the two men, a Straight face as they spoke. She absently took a pin and placed it on her belt, hidden away from prying eyes. She looked at them with a half-smile. "My profession, sometimes subtlety is needed. Having a harper pin for all to see would dissuade many contacts i can reach out to."

She leaned over the map and nodded. "Either way, i think our next move would be to get to Baldur's gate as quickly as possible. Even if they don't arrive there, news of movement may come via caravans or such. If they do, i want to be there and know where i can spy on them from - perhaps find some allies with the urchins and forgotten of the city.....many people overlook a beggar as a source of information."

"The Harpers! I have read much about them. Dedicated to good but often corrupted over the years. Still their devotion to preserving history sits well with me, as a librarian."

Korym picks up one of the pins, and attaches it to the inside of his cloak. "Hope is right, there are many who might turn from the questions of a Harper."

"In fact, it sounds like you both are making suppositions. Unless you are not mentioning that you have factual information on the cultist's whereabouts?"

The dark haired woman hesitated when Leosin offered the pin, seemingly deep in thought as she looked at the shaped silver. Only after draining her wine cup did she look at the monk and told him "While it is a great honor to be offered a position in the Harpers, I must stay true  to my oath of destroying the Dragon cult by any means necessary. I will accept this pin if you swear that it will only represent that I am an ally of your organization when our goals coincide. They do now, but they might not in the future. I will serve my oaths before following any Harper order. Serving too many masters can only lead to extreme confusion and deadly mistakes. I will not add to the innocent blood those monsters have already spilled, by being confused by contradictory instructions. "

The woman's dark almond shaped eyes focused on the half-elf, waiting for his answer.

Leosin smiles. "You're wise to keep the pin hidden; we Harpers do have enemies." He says before turning to Saphira. "The pin signifies that you are in-fact a harper and that you have taken the oath. I understand that you have obligations to the Order, and I wouldn't ask you to compromise them, but alas I cannot promise that your orders would never conflict.

Now then, for those who wish to join please take the pin and repeat after me:

A Harper works against villainy and wickedness wherever they find it; and are ever mindful of the consequences of what they do.

All beings should walk free of fear, with the right to live their lives as they wish.

The rule of law aids peace and fosters freedom, so long as the laws are just and those who enforce them lenient and understanding.

No extreme is good. For freedom to flourish, all must be in balance.

Whatever it takes, a Harper will do. Pride never rules the deeds of a true Harper.

Freedom is a multiversal right, though Harpers can spare themselves less freedom than those they work to protect when the need presents itself.

Harpers police their own. A Harper who hears the call of personal power can no longer hear the sweet song of the harp.

A Harper who seizes power, and holds it above all else, is a traitor to the harp. Traitors must die for freedom to live."

He says holding up his right hand. And waits as those who wish to take the oath with him recite it back to him.

-----

After the oath has been taken Ontharr speaks up. "We have no hard evidence that the cult is headed to Baulder's Gate merely and educated guess. But it is the most obvious destination, given all the evidence.

It would be unlikely they went to Amn or Cormyr as all of their raids thus far have been on the southern Sword Coast and creeping northward, while staying away from major cities or fortifications, and they would be stupid to try and venture through our land of Elturgard, as they would eventually be caught, and unless they want to tangle with fey or were-beasts I imagine they would steer clear of the Wood of Sharp Teeth as well."

Leosin nods. "And while I cannot prove it, I suspect they have another fortification further north; Like Ontharr stated the raids started in the south, but major centers have been left alone, but with the raid on Greenest that is changing. There have also been raids north of Baulder's Gate, as Lady Prideflare can attest. And that bunch is unlikely to have been a part of the group that assaulted Greenest so they would have to be holding up somewhere near their raids.

And now that Greenest, the crown jewel of easy pickings in the south has been taken, I expected them to sit fat and happy until some kind of major raid against a major center between the two groups could take place. But with your information of their flight, it seems me, a harper, escaping spooked them. And with little left in the south to take, that wouldn't bring the hammer down on them, I suspect they are going to head north and join with their fellows. which as Ontharr has predicted, would cause them to pass through Baulder's Gate. And to that end I would like to set you lot to intercept them and then follow them straight to their next hideout."

Einar shakes his head a bit stepping back and letting the others take their new oaths if they so choose. "I will continue to help as I have been  but right now I do not have the desire to join your orginization at the very least. However if my companions do I will still assist them so with this current threat.

With that he waits on everyone to finish their oaths so they can return to planning their next move. He nods as they go over all the evidence before asking them to head to BAulder's Gate "Sounds Like a fair bet that we should head for Baulder's gate then, at least untill such a time as new information sprouts up."

Nodding her head after the half elf answered her, the exotic looking woman did not make a move towards the pins afterward, instead internally reciting her oaths as a palladin member of the order of the gauntlet, peppering her own oaths of vengeance throughout. The Harper promises were indeed too different from her's to have been compatible and like she had pointed out, she was glad not to have taken another master.

She then listened to the likely scenarios and nodded again. "I've never been to Balder's Gate, if it is the way those cultists go, that is where they will meet my blades... if you'll allow me to accompany you, of course." She looked at the group, holding the gaze of anyone looking at her, her intense stare designed to find weaknesses.

Hope looked at the pin and then tossed it back with a smile. "No offence, but i like doing thing my way harper. Your organisation and i are aligned, but understand that my view of law and yours are far different. I make that oath, and i'm tying my hands....I Stay how i am but ally myself with the harpers, then i can do what i must and still remain at ease not having broken your 'rules'"

She looked at Leosin with a half smile. "I'm sure your gonna keep a close eye on 'us' anyway."

When the talk again came to baldur's gate, she nodded. "Seems then that Baldur's gate is our next stop." She looked at the human warrior and nodded. "Another blade is always welcome"

Korym repeats the oath back to Leosin and then adds, with a chuckle "A bit pretentious. But the Harpers were always know to be meddlers in the affairs of others. I suppose I committed to do the same!"

Still, the elf gives Leosin a formal bow. [Language unknown: Iou nemi nt etei.]

"Hope is right. You, and your blade, are welcome."

Korym adds somewhat wistfully, "I had planned on going to Baldur's Gate after I visited Candlekeep..."

Onthar slaps Saphira upon the back with a hearty laugh. "Sounds like a new adventure awaits you!"

Leosin laughs. "Well, Ontharr will set up passage on a boat in the morning; I have a contact in Baulder's Gate his name is Ackyn Selebon, he's a human, he runs an equipage business in the outer city north of the city wall, in a district called Blackgate; he sells all the materials one would need for hauling freight, so he should be a good guy to talk to about looking out for the cult when they come by, and you may have to wait, though any longer than a ten day and I would think the cult has eluded us by choosing a different course than we expect;

Also I would try and change up your appearances some, before meeting the cult again, if I were you. Don't want any of them recognizing you, though I doubt many who saw you are still alive, but better to be safe than sorry.

And one more thing." He says reaching behind him and pulling out a small chest. Upon opening it, several dozen bags of coins can be seen. "I would like each of you to take one, they contain fifty gold pieces, use them for operating expenses, rooms, food, equipment, just whatever you might need."


O.O.C. The boat will leave in the morning so the group can make any preparations they might need while in Elturel. The trip will wind up taking two uneventful days.

Also welcome to level 4.

let me know when your ready and I will get the next part set up.

Hope looks at the man and nods. "Not the first time i've had to cut and color my hair." She muttered as she took the sack. she looked at the men. "We will keave at first light and make our way as soon as possible to your friend. If we have time, i can scout the area outside baldurs gate and watch for movement."

"The only cultists I left behind are all six feet under, I would not think they have my description but fine, if you feel it's necessary." The woman went to take another sip of wine, frowning when she saw her cup was empty.

Korym looks at Hope, holding his long black hair, "Perhaps you can help me then? I've had my hair cut, of course, but never to disguise myself!"

hope looked at the elf and smiled. "You'd look good with shorter hair....if we can get some lemons, i can even lighten it a bit."

Einar reachs forward grabbing his coins with a nod. "Guess I should check out the town before we leave see if there's anything worth buying." He chuckles a bit at the comments and everyone talking about how they were gonna disguse themselves.

"I think I'm the one that has the bigget problem, I don't disguise well or lie well either. Plus I'm sure there arn't many in these area's that walk around shirtless with a rapier.

"Well, Einar. You could solve half that problem by buying a shirt!"

"Why would I want to do that, and even then it wouldn't change much since my combat style is so different."

Hope couldn't help but smile at Einar, shaking her head. "Lets just get moving boys - i don't want those dragon bastards getting ahead of us." She looks at Saphira with a tilted head. "...you comming?'

Baulder's Gate

Baulder's Gate is a bustling center of trade; with goods coming comeing from north and south by way of wagon along the Trade Way and by ship on the Sea of Serpents, and east along the river Chionthar and From Cormyr and Symbia.

Baulder's Gate is situated on a prominent bluff next to the river, overlooking an excellent natural harbor. The city is divided into three distinct segments: the Upper city where the richest and most influential citizens live and where the city's marketplace The Wide is located, the lower city which surrounds the harbor and where most of the city's merchants live and conduct their business, and then there is the outer City, which lies outside the walls and is where most of the city's laborers reside in conditions that vary from crowded but clean to squalid.

Baulder's Gate doesn't allow wagons, pack animals, horses, or even dogs into the city. The streets are too narrow, steep, and slick from frequent rain that heavy wagons would be a menace. This is actually one of the reasons Baulder's Gate is such a bustling commercial hub; for goods to pass through the city from south to north, for example, they must be be unloaded in the outer city east of the wall and carried through the city by porters on foot, and reloaded north of the city onto different wagons for the rest of their journey. Most merchants find it easier to just unload their wares at the gate to waiting merchants and stock up on new and exotic goods there and return home than to try and pay the hauling costs through the city.

The journey to Baulder's gate took only two days by river boat. and upon arrival there is no sight of the cult or their caravan. Leosin's contact Ackyn Selebon operates an equipage business in the outer city north of the city wall, in a district called the Blackgate; there he sells all the materials needed for long distance freight hauling, wagons, ropes, netting, grease, chains, wheels, and so on. His shop also repairs wagons, and while not directly involved in the hiring of guards for the caravans he has offered the group two contacts that might be interested in hiring them, and a place to stay and observe the traffic coming through the town, if the group is at least willing to pitch in with the labor while they are there.

The first potential contact is Jack "The Jackel" Bermon; a male human, who makes the journey north often, his reputation is that of a good man but not very wealthy and will likely be unable to pay well, but he is a friend of Ackyn and a possible candidate.

The other option is another of Ackyn's friends Edhelri Lewel, a female Moon Elf, who can be somewhat impatient with people, and a bit of a perfectionist, but her trade is a lucrative one and she would be more likely to pay a decent wage.

Einar stretches and rolls his shoulders a bit as he steps off the river boat with a light yawn, being on a boat for two days had been quite dreadful. Not because of any reason other than he had nothing to do on a dang boat. Turning to look at his current traveling companions with a smile, "So my fair friends what should we see to first. Some meetings, or find a place to stay and maybe a quick bite to eat after all I can only eat so much hard tack."

Hope stepped off the boat after Einar, equally happy to be off the boat.  She was ill used to being confined to a single space for too long, and this showed when she started playing with her blades on the end of the first day.

She looked around and smiled, the bustle of the streets something she was used to. She looked at the man and nodded. "Lets find a place to stay and a meal.....we can go from there."

The newest member of the group had spent the trip mostly helping the crew in whatever task was needed, taking the reminder of her time in prayers when she was not sleeping. When asked, she answered that she was praying for the souls of the victims of the dragon cultists, and that her red cloak was a tribute to them. Although quite social, there was a feeling of an hard edge to the woman, that she was keeping honed.

When the group arrived in Baldur's gate, she stretched with an obvious delight, before taking her heavy bag and what seemed her main weapon, a staff fitted with blades at both ends. "Resting does sound good, but lets not forget our goal, to see the dragon cultists arrive and intercept them before they can spread their filth. So those two options to subtly monitor the gates are to be explored. I won't mind hard work, so either will be fine for me. "

Korym was obviously quite taken with his first trip on a vessel larger than a rowboat. Unlike the others, he would have happily continued for many more days. But this was not a pleasure cruise.

"I think an inn would be a good idea, Einar, We can decide whether to seek employment with Jack Bermonor or Edhelri Lewel, over dinner, spend the night and approach them in the morning.

If Ackyn is right, they will offer us lodging as part of being a guard."

The elf runs his hand through his now-short hair. "Which way to an inn?"

---

Assuming that the group had already spoken to Ackyn Selebon and that it is now evening.

Hope looked at the eager Saphira. "They had a head start on us by a few days - one more will do no difference." She shouldered her pack. "...besides, there are some people other than Jack Bermonor or Edhelri Lewel that i'd like to talk to....may give us some insight"

With the decision to seek an inn decided; the group sets out. In the, beyond crowded, city of Baulder's Gate it doesn't take long to find a places to stay, with two options standing out above the rest.

The Thirteenth Net Inn and Tavern is within walking distance of Ackyn's business and has two rooms available for the reasonable price of five silver pieces per night, but if you want a meal the price increases to five silver and six copper, the meal being a warm bowl of pidgeon stew, and potatoes.

There is also the Golden Feather Inn further down the same road as the Thirteenth Net but one would have to walk for half an hour to get to Ackyn's business. This inn however has enough rooms for everyone such that no one would need to double up, but it also costs more costing four gold per night, and offers a luxurious breakfast, lunch, and dinner buffet included in the cost per night.


o.o.c. Sorry for the delay everyone, the Thanksgiving holiday and work took up much of my time recently.

Korym looks at the others, hopefully, "We are likely here for only a night or two, shall we splurge?"

Hope looked at Korym and shrugged. "One inn is as good as another - as long as i get a warm bed and a meal, i survive." She looked at the others. "Before we settle for the night, i want to look around....call it a professional courtesy between those of the less-than-honorable trade - i don't want to step on any toes here."

---

<OOC: My plan is to settle, then look for agents of the local thieves guild - subtlety.

'Hope' rolled 14 using 1d20+3.  investigation check.>
This message was last edited by the player at 10:53, Fri 02 Dec 2022.

The warrior shrugged at the sorcerer's suggestion, then nodded to Hope. The venue is not important to me, same as Hope, as long as I can get rest. While you go ply your trade, I will find the temple, maybe they will have heard something about the cult.


<OOC>Saphira will try to find a temple of Tyr, to pay her respects and get information.

The Golden Feather Inn is beyond luxurious bordering on the ludicrous. Inside the floors are made from dark exotic wood foreign to the sword cost. Extravagant paintings, murals, and tapestries line the walls. The main common area is furnished with benches and chairs one would expect from a pleasure palace, while hanging from the ceiling are large extravagant chandeliers with dancing lights cast upon them.

Behind the main desk an impeccably dressed gnome with a greased mustache flared out into needle like points greets you as you enter. "Greetings and welcome to the Golden Feather Inn; the greatest inn on the whole of the Sword Coast. May I ask how many nights you are expecting to stay with us?" He asks as several halfling servants in suit and tie step out from a side room to take your baggage.

Korym smiles brightly at the gnome and halfling. Mostly because he finds them to be ridiculous! Nonetheless, he answers courteously, "Four rooms, one night for certain, perhaps two if our business takes longer."

The elf counts out the 16 gold and hands it to the gnome.

The gnome takes the gold biting one of them before motioning to the halflings. "Very good! I will have your luggage taken to your rooms." He says handing over four copper skeleton keys with a glowing red rune upon them; the attending halflings ready to take the baggage.

"Breakfast is no longer being served, but lunch will be at noon, and dinner at sundown. The buffet will be served in our main dining hall." He says motioning to a set of double doors to his right across the main lobby. "And if there is anything else I can do to make your stay in Baulder's Gate more enjoyable please don't hesitate to ask."

O.O.C.
I don't mind roleplaying your stay in a hotel, but I will move the story along slightly unless there is something you all want done. I am currently running a side adventure with Hope and Saphira, so if there are side things you wish to accomplish in BG let me know.

Einar just nods as they splurge a bit on a nice room after he gets the info on food he moves to go to his room carrying his own gear of course. For his part he basically waits on everyone else to get done with their things just taking meals as they are available.

That night, back at the Golden Feather, the group once more comes together sitting down for dinner in the dining hall. The buffet is truly a grand one worth every gold piece, with roasted boar, chicken, turkey, and exotic delicacies such as steamed cloaker and deviled owlbear eggs, not to mention every kind of vegetable and fruit one can imagine.

o.o.c. sorry fell asleep after work, but had to wake up in the middle of the night, and when I did I remembered I needed to post lol.

Korym makes a point of trying at least of taste of almost everything that is served!

In between bites he relays his findings at the library.

"I spent the day at the library, researching the Cult of the Dragon. The cultists we interrogated told us that the Cult is no longer looking to raise undead dragons, rather they are planning on calling Tiamat to Faerun! And they need a hoard of treasure to do so.

I was looking for any information that might relate to current theories on the Cult's plans and how they might accomplish their task. There was scant information to be found, but I did find some points of interest.

First, the cult were allying themselves with the Red Wizards. If you recall Felosiel, whom we battled at the Greenest mill, she is proof that this alliance is likely in place.

Second, I came across something in a tome written by a Red Wizard," Korym pulls out his journal and recites,

"...there is also a set of items known as the Dragons Masks, a set of five masks, one for each colour of chromatic dragon, purported to be forged from the souls of thousands of chromatic dragons of all colours, all of whom were the consorts of the Dragon Queen Herself, and each imbued with a piece of the Queen's essence. It is said that those who wear these masks will then think like dragons, and be able to subtly influence them, gaining favour among them as if they were the chosen of their queen."

Closing his journal, the wizard adds, "I could find little else on the masks, but if they truly contain a fragment of Tiamat, then they could indeed be used in a summoning ritual. But it would still take unfathomable power to complete such a ritual."

Saphira listened to the wizard's report, tapping her lips with a finger.  Once he was done, she gave her much shorter resume. "I went to the temple of Tyr. The unsual occurances are getting old, about a month ago a man recruited in the slums for the cult. And there was a string of robberies in the higher class sectors.

Maybe those robberies are linked to the dragon hoard? It could be possible. Someone might know something about those here too. "

The paladin barely indulged in the wealth of offerings, keeping her meal and drink frugal.

Einar munchs away at the many dishes present on the table listening to those with more skills and plans thoughts. "Seems like quite a few leads but we should be able to narrow it down once we meet one of our friends tomorrow and maybe get this moving in a direction." He grins a bit as he leans back taking a quick drink of his mead.

Hope had returned with a serious look well after the others. The news she got caused her to be cautious, and when she returned, sat down with a sigh. "Sorry i'm late -  things were a bit more complicated than i had hoped." She waved the bartender for a drink, then looked at the otehrs.

"My usual contacts from when i last lived here told me no movement has come through - but some old debts are haunting me a bit....one personal one in particular. Back in the day i was a bit reckless and one of my friends took the blame - he may still hold a grudge." She shrugged as she took a sip of ale. "Live in the big city - never boring." She muttered

The next morning at the Golden Feather while the group is eating breakfast a dwarven man stomps into the dining hall shoving past the protesting maître d, with little more than a grunt. He is an older and gruff looking dwarf who has obviously labored hard throughout his life; he wears a set of overalls and a once white shirt that has been stained many times by many different drinks it seems. His gaze is intent upon Hope as he stomps to the group's table.

Once there he looks about the group, "Name's Axebreaker." He says before turning his attention back to Hope. "You wanted to know about Dragon worshipers moving through town? Well, They're here. A huge group just riled up every two-bit informant in this city. Word is a large caravan just arrived to the south, it's goods are being loaded up on couriers now, and they're destined for the north gate. There is also some big shot with them being carried in a palanquin." He says looking about the group again and refocusing on Hope.

Hope looked at the dwarf and frowned, nodding to the man, she pulled out a gold coin and flipped it to him. "Thanks....my advice is to stay away from them - they snatched up a small village a way back - mean bastards."

When she finished, she looked at the others. "We gotta be smart here - they see us and they will know we're coming. Odds are they hired local help too, and i'm a bit well known here." She frowned as she took a drink. "Maybe you can look around there during the day - i can go at night where the darkness can hide me."

"What do you think? Do we ask Ackyn's friends, Jack or Edhelri to hire us as guards for their caravans to give us some anonymity?

Or do we follow them on our own?"

The elf twirls his newly shorn and lightened hair, "Do you think our appearances are changed enough to not be recognised?

I think I favour joining up with another caravan and blending in with a larger group just in case."

Hope looked at Korym and nodded. "Blending in with a group would be easier....but you will be at the mercy of the group as to where and how long."

Saphira pondered the dwarf's words for a moment, then the answers of her companions. "I understand the need to hide from those monsters, at least until we are ready. But if we get hired as guard, it is a question of honor to complete our contract, which would impact the main goal. I would not want to have to break my word to save the world from this grave a threat to it's very survival. I know I'm not offering a solution here, because I don't see one at this moment. "

Korym chuckles quietly, "That is a very noble thought, Saphira. Never in my life would I ever contemplate that I might have a hand in saving even one life!

I wonder if we could ask Ackyn to arrange with his friend Jack for us to accompany his caravan but not take on the role of guard.

We would simply travel with them, and pay Jack for whatever food we eat.

Then if we need to leave abruptly, he will not be short guards, and Saphira will be able to save the world with a clean conscience." He adds smiling at the paladin.

Not long after the group sets out for Ackyn's Equipage they become bogged down in the traffic of the city. At first one would assume it is because of a large number of people out in the streets all at once, but it becomes apparent the blocked and clogged city streets are from normal foot traffic being diverted through side streets and alleys that simply are not meant for the large amounts of people that are currently funneling through them.

After about an hour the crowds begin to thin and traffic begins to get back to normal, and just as the group is able to make its way to the main road, they can see the last few couriers and porter of a massive convoy moving down the street ahead, flanked by rather tough and menacing looking men who are following close behind and roughing up anyone in too big of a hurry or stupid enough to get too close to the rear of the convoy.

No cult regalia can be seen on any of the men, just armor and weapons, but it is clear these are either the cult themselves or the thugs they hired.


A trip that would normally have taken about thirty minutes winds up taking two hours as the slow-moving group makes its way to the northern part of the city, where the narrow streets give way to wider ones and the cult convoy is able to speed up its pace.

As the traffic breaks up and people begin to disperse it becomes easier to see the extent of the cult's forces, the haul they are carrying is a kingdom's ransom worth of crates, wagons, and armed men and women, and at the center of it all is a small platoon of men who surround a palanquin.

----

The city's northern equipages are swamped with the cult's agents purchasing wagons and supplies; and Ackyn's business is no different. The man is busy throwing large bags of goods and coils of rope onto his counter, as the party makes its way inside.

A heavyset man in black full plate armor and a massive battle axe on his back stands on the other side of the counter with an elven woman with blond hair and four long claw mark scars across her face and an eyepatch across her right eye, the armor she wears is leather stylized armor in the manner of an elven ranger, but it is tattered, old, and missing many pieces, upon her back is an old and beaten looking elven long bow. "Master Kollus requires three kegs of mead as well." The woman says in a meek voice to Ackyn as he drops another large coil of rope on the counter.
This message was last edited by the GM at 12:23, Thu 12 Jan 2023.

Einar snorts about as they finally manage to get free of the jostling and tightly packed crowd, he stretches a bit as he looks around and takes a look over at the man that would be Ackyn.

"Well there at least we finally made it through the city and too the shop." He steps to the side to wait and let everyone else come in as well while the elven woman does her business with Ackyn.

With the hood of a plain brown cloak up on her head, Saphira watched the palanquin procession pass with a deep seated hatred in her eyes, hand clutching her symbol of Tyr, a prayer asking for forgiveness for the deception in her heart. It took a little while for the group to shake her off from watching where the cultists had disappeared in the crowd to have her moving again towards Ackyn's shop, where she stowed her pendant, looking like any other sellsword in the streets.

Korym follows Einar into the shop, "It's like the city is beyond its capacity!" he remarks.

The wizard gives a nod to the proprietor, but does not interrupt while he deals with his current customers. Korym wanders about the shop, apparently taking in the items in stock.

He does his best to listen to the elf woman and her companion as they interact with Ackyn, trying to pick up any bits of their conversation.

---

Korym Nightstar rolled 4 using 1d20+3 for Perception (WIS).

Apparently, Korym's ear are full of wax!

Hope was one of the last out, disappearing almost immediately in the crowd as they started moving. Hope was born of the streets, and these places were nice her home - she knew how to blend in.

When they came to the convoy, Saphira (tensing up), felt a hand on her arm as what looked like a elderly form, hunched over in a dirty grey robe and walking stick at her side grasped her arm….but the hand was not old, and the voice that whispered was familiar. “You can’t right the wrongs if your dead.” she hissed, then again let go and shambled into the crowd.

---

At the door of the merchant, Hope leaned in the shadows, looking around, she nodded and entered, drawing the linen hood of the robe up. She stood behind the group silently

---

<OOC: Hope' rolled 20 using 1d20+7.  Stealth check .>

Ackyn disappears into the back room of his business several times, each time returning with a keg and setting it on the counter, straining under their weight.

"Well, if that will be the last of it, that comes out to forty-four gold, nine silver, and three copper." He says to the elf.

The elven woman looks to the armored man then proceeds to pay the sum; as she does so several rugged looking men come in and begin carting off the merchandise, almost as if they had been watching and waiting for the moment.

Once the new couriers have completed their task the one known as Kollus turns without a word and makes his leave, the elven woman bows her head avoiding eye contact with him and promptly follows keeping her eyes to the ground.

"Thank you for the business and remember I have the best prices around!" Ackyn says as the group leaves. He then bites one of the gold coins, nods dropping it in a chest under the counter, and turns his attention over to his new arrivals.

"Well at least they pay well."

"Yeah I'm sure they do...." Einar frowns a bit deeply at the comment over all knowing that they are paying with what is most likely pillaged gold. "Either way I'm sure my friends here have much to discuss with you The details are not my forte I'm just looking for a healthy dose of revenge."

The woman looked up to Einar and briskly nodded to his comment. " You and me both, big man. We will see justice done. Master Ackyn, my companions and I would like to hire passage in your caravan.".

Korym watches as the elf and the one called Kollus leave the store. He looks like he is about to say something to them, but then holds his tongue.

He turns his attention back to the proprietor, as Saphira starts a conversation.

"Leosin said you would he able to help us."
This message was last edited by the player at 03:32, Mon 30 Jan 2023.

Hope, still disguised as a old woman, looked around the room for any possible enemies or spies before she would reveal herself.

"Bah, meant not'n by it, no need to get all sad faced" Ackyn balks at Einar before turning his attention to the others.

"I don't actually have a caravan myself but I can put in a good word with one of two people I know to get you hired on as a guard, if'n you'd like that is. Just give this to either Jack Bermon or Edhelri Lewel both are good folk, and both owe me one, so this will make whomever you give it to even with me." He says placing a sealed letter on the counter. "This will explain that their debt will be paid in full if they employ you folks as guards. Thats the best I can do. You can find them at the caravanner's guild hall down the street, they are both going to be there trying to hire guards through the guild, I am sure with as busy as things are today they will be waiting outside, just ask around, they're regulars on the route, someone will be able to point them out." He says then turning his attention to Hope.

"Hello maa'am may I help you with something?" He asks thinking she is another customer waiting in line.

The half elf stands up and removes her hood, smiling. “I’m with them.” She says simply, smiling at the man.

Einar nods and reaches out to take the letter if no one else does. "Guards isn't a bad way to do it would be weird to follow a carven with out at some sorta story as why the group of us is going that way."

Saphira sighed then looked at Ackyn. "Leosin sent us, not to be caravan guards, but to travel with the caravan. We are after much more bigger fish than some bandits on the road. "

Ackyn looks slightly annoyed at the inference that he is unaware of the stakes. "Yeah, yeah I know these bastards are bad news. And if'n you don't want to work for either of the two I can recommend don't; take the letter or leave it, either way I have done my part, anything else you can negotiate on your own." He says gruffly. "Now if you will excuse me I have work to do, and I am sure more customers will be coming in shortly." He says moving from behind the counter and opening the front door and holding it.

"Be assured your assistance in most appreciated, Master Selebon.

We are only concerned that if we hire on as guards and have to leave abruptly, we will leave the caravan understaffed. And, as Saphira noted, bandits are not our concern but they will be of concern to the caravan masters."

Hoping that his explanation will assuage Ackyn's frustration with the group, Korym steps out of the shop.

Hope looked at the dwarf with a sour look. Whne they spoke, her tone was less kind. "I think what he means is 'if we aren't signing on, get out', am i right?" She crossed her arms. "As he said, he doesn't like them, but they pay well."

She snorted shaking her head. "Tell me, will you accept their coin once they loot, pillage and kill your frineds or family dwarf? Their coin will still be good then!"

The paladin's gaze smoldered when she looked at the dwarf, and she had to restrain her tongue, letting Hope do most of the verbal lashing. But she had to say something, the callousness of the merchant just grating on her nerves. Master Ackyn, you have lost an occasion to show you care about the fate of the entire world. Instead, your cold gold defines your character, that much is clear. Remember that the Gods watch your every actions and will judge you when you die with your shop burning around you because you encouraged a festering evil to grow.

Her dark eyes caught the dwarve's own and she kept the withering gaze on him for a moment, before making to follow the wizard.

Today: Saphira Prideflare rolled 25 using 1d20+5 with rolls of 20.  intimidation. That is still a 20 on the dice, don't know if it counts at a crit on a skill check.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:50, Sun 19 Feb 2023.

Einar Follows the group out not caring to comment further as it seems the girls had said more than enough to get the point across. So with a light shrug he shakes his head and leaves the shop.

Once the small party had re-grouped outside the shop, Korym tucks Ackyn's letter into his pouch as he asks, "To the Caravaners Guild, then?

Between the two, I lean toward Jack Bermon. If he is less wealthy than Edhelri Lewel then he will likely be more willing to have us join as travellers rather than guards, as he will welcome our coin."

Ackyn is visibly uncomfortable as Saphira stares him down and cannot close the door fast enough once everyone is out.

------------

The Caravanner's Guild Hall is indeed busy; one would assume hundreds of people were getting ready for an epic voyage given the number of people here. But it seems most are simply merchants trying to hawk their wares to a captive audience.

Asking about for Jack, it doesn't take long for someone to point you to a ruggedly handsome human man. He is wearing a well-worn set of traveling clothes and is standing atop a wagon while talking, or perhaps arguing with an older human woman and a teenage one.

As you draw closer the argument they are having becomes understandable. "Listen lady, I am sure your granddaughter will make a fine swordsma-- er swordswoman, and a fine guard some day; but it's dangerous out there on the road and I don't want to be responsible for putting someone who isn't ready into harms way." Jack says while running a hand through his short brown hair.

"She has trained night and day for years sir, this is her passion; and I'm afraid I simply can't afford to take care of her any longer, she needs a job that will give her some experience, and being a caravan guard, while dangerous is less dangerous than being say a soldier or heavens forbid an adventurer." The old woman says pleading

Jack sighs. "Look, the road is dangerous period. Besides getting killed isn't the worst thing that can happen to a young woman out there, I know I've seen it." He says before turning to the teenage girl."Listen, I can appreciate that you want to swing a sword and be a hero, but I've seen a lot of people die that way and I won't be responsible for putting you in harms way, im sorry. Besides, your not even part of the guild, and if I were to hire you I wouldn't be able to hire any guild guards."

Korym stands a few paces behind the woman and teen-aged girl, as if queuing to speak to Jack Bermon. The elf makes eye contact with Bermon, to indicate an interest in speaking to him without interrupting. As he waits, his gaze wanders as he tries to pretend to not overhear the conversation.

Einar stands behind Korym watching the young girl as well just waiting to see how this all plays out not really worried about looking away.

The conversation carries on for a while longer the girl speaking up for herself toward the end. "Mr. I can hold my own, I promise; the guild hall won't employ me without experience; and I can't get experience unless someone like you takes a chance on me.

Please, I promise I won't get in the way, and I will work for half of what you would pay one of the guild guards." The red-haired teen pleads.

Jack groans as he runs his hand down his face. "Fine... half. But I'm not responsible for anything that happens to you, and if you get killed..."

"Oh, Thank you sir you won't regret this I promise!" The girl says almost jumping in place with excitement but then catches herself and quickly composes herself.

Jack sighs looking at the ground. "Fuck me... We leave when this huge caravan moves out, go get your stuff and be back here quick." He says finishing up his conversation with the old woman and the teen.

As the two leave Jack turns to the men staring him down. "Sorry about that gentlemen. I take it you are gentlemen? Seeing as how you haven't interrupted or tried to kill me yet, I take it you're not with the Zhentarim or anyone I owe money?"

Hope, from her cloaked form, watched teh interaction with interest, not saying a word. When the place was empty, she looked at Korym and nodded letting him do the talking.

Korym returns Hope's nod, as a smile crosses his face. "I can assure you Master Bermon that we wish you no harm, financially or physically."

The elf hands Bermon the letter, and continues, "This is a letter of introduction from Ackyn Selebon. While the letter asks that you hire us a guards for your caravan, we would like to propose a slight modification.

We would like to accompany your caravan, as if we were guards, but we will need the freedom to disappear at times, and possibly to leave without notice. While we travel with you, we will assist your hired crew with protecting the caravan.

In return, we will pay you to cover the cost of our food and drink...and perhaps the wages for that apprentice guard you just hired!

What do you say?"

The paladin had watched the interaction between the young woman and the caravan master with interest. The woman was not much younger than she was but there was certainly a spunk and fervor in her words that would be tested on the road. She would be talking to that girl, but for now, she listened to Korym, glad he added the caveat she had insisted on.

Jack laughs as he takes the offered letter. "You wanna pay me to pretend to be guards? And pay for my actual guard? What kind of madness does Ackyn have you running for him?" He says opening the letter and quickly scanning it.

Jack's face drops as he reads the letter; once finished he again pipes up. "You must be in some serious shit, if Ackyn is willing to call a three thousand gold debt paid in full. So I am going to need some details before I agree to anything... What kind of trouble am I going to be getting in the middle of?"

Korym's eyes widen upon hearing the sum that the shopkeeper was willing to forego at Leosin's request. Perhaps they had underestimated Ackyn Seleborn's sacrifice.

Looking around to ensure that their conversation was somewhat private, the wizard explains to Bermon, "You may have noticed the very large, unruly contingent that arrived recently? We believe they are planning on heading north from Baldur's Gate, and want to be able to keep an eye on them.

If they stick to the road then we will simply be extra guards for your goods. If they take a detour, then we may have to take our leave.

In any case, we are not looking to do more than observe and follow," his eyes dart to Saphira and Hope, "no violence is expected."

Hope drew her hood back a little, showing her face to Jack. "Lets say we want to blend in and not bring too much attention - and with you helping us we may just do that. We do our job right, they won't even know we were there, let alone where we came from."

Saphira prefered the diect approach and all that sneaking around was not to her liking. She nonetheless nodded to Khorym assessment of their predicament. "As an added bonus, I am willing to train that girl you just talked to. If I can teach her how to survive in a battle, you will gain someone that will be able to do her part in the caravan."

Einar stands there quietly letting the others speak, the man didn't need everyone to say something to him. After all none of those present would really leave him out after Greenest to say the least.

"If all goes well, I don't see a down side for you, Mister Bermon."

Jack rubs his chin. "Yeah, if all goes well..." he says, his tone unsure.

"Alright, I will play along, I can't say no to a debt this big getting paid off.

And if you're really wanting to pay for the girl, her wage will come to ninety gold all told, as per our agreement for working for half pay. As for food, I don't offer much but I can at least keep food in your belly on the trip.

So, gather whatever you need and be back here before this convoy your tracking leaves."

Korym counts out 100 gold pieces and hands them to Bermon, "The girl's wages, and a bit for our food and drink. We'll be back within the hour. If we can get through this damned crowd!"

---

Not sure if we left anything at the inn, but this gives a chance to gather our stuff and/or pick up any other supplies needed.

Jack taps his foot as he stands atop his wagon watching as the bulk of the caravan begins moving. "Where is that girl?" He mutters to himself, as he scans the crowd for her.

Moments more pass before the young red headed woman comes running up shouting and waving her hand in the air as she makes her way through the crowd. She is now wearing her hair up in a high ponytail and wearing an old and very cobbled together breastplate armor set, none of it fitting her very well, with an old pitted long-sword slung at her side.

"I'm so sorry sir! I tried getting back as fast as I could but the streets were crowded." She pleads as she approaches. As she notices the rest of the group a look of confusion and growing concern forming on her face.

Jack lets out a light sigh. "No harm no foul kid, you made it just in time, the caravan hasn't left yet. These kind folk are your boss now; I made a deal with them and they have paid your salary in full. So... you are working for them now, but your first priority is still the protection of my wagon, got it?" He asks as he chucks a sack of coins toward her.

She catches the bag looking confused. "No."

With a slight laugh Jack continues, "Half now, the other half when we reach my destination, your new employers can answer any more questions you might have, on the road. Right now we are moving out." He finishes saying as he sits down and takes the reigns of the wagon, and with a crack, the two horses in front begin to move forward.

The young girl looks about the group sheepishly. "Thank you for hiring me. My name is Aurora Silver, and I will do my best not to fail you."

The paladin moved towards the woman barely out of childhood and gave her a evaluating look, before tapping her double bladed staff on the ground. "Aurora, these are Khorym, Einar and Hope. My name is Saphira, and I have been fighting in the name of Tyr for the last few years. Jack has put us in charge of you, and it would greatly displease me, and Tyr, if you were to die before your time. I will train you, but I need to know what combat experience do you bring to the table?"

The paladin was going straight to the point, there was no time to waste to bring this sliver of a woman to a minimal fighter standard.

Hope stood by, still in the ratty hooded robe but a lot more at ease, showing the woman who she was. "We all have our own style so you'll be learning from all of us - best prepare you for what's to come. If your not guarding or sleeping, you train. By the end if it, they'll be begging you to join them..."

The half elf looked at Saphira. "....if you survive."

Korym climbs up onto the wagon and takes a seat next to Bermon. He looks at the other wagons as the caravan forms up. "What exactly are we hauling, Mister Bermon?"

"Aurora, with me. We will talk."

Finding a place in the back of a wagon for both of them, she started by asking to see the girl's blade to examine it, already making plans to adjust her armor when they would stop.

<ooc> I am away this weekend to go to my grand mother funral wake, expect minimal/nil posts

"Oh a little bit of everything. I tend to buy from adventurers, so the things that come my way tend to be rather varied. But mostly arms and armor on this trip." Jack says, watching Korym as he sits beside him. "So tell me, if you can, what did these guys do to you that warrants all this?"

Aurora dutifully follows Saphira's orders presenting her sword, which has seen better days; pits and nicks run the full length of the blade. "It belonged to my father. It was handed down to me when he died, and I have been practicing with it to get as good as he was with it. I know it doesn't look like much now, but I plan to get it repaired."

--------
The caravan consists of eight wagons and roughly a dozen travelers following along on either horse back or simply walking alongside the wagons. The cult's wagons are indistinguishable from any other in the caravan, the cultists dressed as simple mercenaries or waggoneers.

But one Wagon stands out from the rest as unmistakably cult. The large man from Ackyn's shop is driving it while the scarred woman he was with can be seen from time to time inside the covered back end of the wagon when the flaps shift open as the wind or cart's movements rustle them.


But curiously absent from the caravan is the palanquin that had been seen getting escorted through the streets of Baulder's Gate, and nothing about any of the wagons would imply that anyone of any importance would be riding in any of them.

Einar brings up the pseudo rear of the group as he walks along behind the two girls on the wagon where he can conversate with them while walking. "Hmm that weapon needs repair before you should use it for any real combat, otherwise you risk breaking it. I have a couple of spare weapons that you could pick from in the mean time. Namely a Battle axe, Short sword, and a hand axe."

Korym glances at the merchant before moving his eyes back to the Cultist wagon carrying the Red Wizard.

“Well, the simple answer is that they are responsible for razing the town of Greenest…killing many of the villagers, stealing their possessions, and destroying many of their homes. For that alone they need to be brought to justice.”

The elf lets out a sigh before continuing. “The more complicated answer is that they are Dragon Cultists, and they may be trying to conduct a ritual that could bring massive devastation to the Sword Coast. Maybe to all of Faerun. But this is not as clear. So we need to watch them and try to figure out what is truly going on.”

Hope, now that the caravan was moving, discared the majority of her disguise. She had a hooded cloak and tied her hair up to stop any flowing, but within the cloak, she looked like a mercenary with daggers at her side. She listened to Elnar offer words of advice and smiled - in the time she had known him, she grew to respect the man.

She listened to Korym speak and sighed - spilling the whole story she walked beside him. "....basicly their mean, cruel bastards that are up to something, and we wanna know what."

Saphira nodded to Einar's assessment of the blade. "I could try to repair it with proper tools, but I don't know if a portable forge is being brought in this caravan. If you prefer the longsword to what Einar offers, I could lend you mine for the time we will spend together, I prefer the two bladed staff anyway. I only use my sword when I need the additional defense of my shield. Your armor is much too loose fitting to give appropriate protection though. In a glance, I can see at least a dozen weak points that could get you killed. Let me help you remove it so I can see what I can do to fix it."

Jack simply stares ahead at the description of the cultist's crimes for a brief time before speaking up. "Oh, I was thinking they just owed a lot of money or something... So, we're talking high level shit here... And I just brought a kid along; great."

------

Aurora seems taken aback slightly at so many options being presented to her at once. "I, uh, I don't know... I've never trained with anything but my sword before" She says to Einar, as she accepts the long sword from Saphira. "Are you sure about this? I mean this is all a little much; why are you being so nice?" she asks cocking an eyebrow.

Korym's eyebrow rises as he looks at the merchant. "Without a doubt, Mister Bermon," he replies dryly, "the highest level shit you and I will likely ever encounter."

Glancing over his shoulder, as he listens to his companions talking to the young girl, he adds, "Young Aurora will likely survive this journey. My friends have taken it upon themselves to take care of her. They are all very capable."

The elf's gaze drifts back to the largest wagon. "Do you know anything about the armoured man driving that wagon? Or the scarred elf-woman with him? We ran into them briefly at Selebon's shop."

Saphira looked at Aurora with a half-smile that was not reflected in her black eyes. "Very good questions, and you deserve an answer. I too was a young warrior a few years ago. I was a berserk girl then, and almost died in my first fights, I have the scars to prove it. If I am here today, it is because I had help and started following the teachings of Tyr. You seem to be a eager one, and before you end up like I almost did, I want to give you the chance I had. I have a lot I can teach you. Are you ready to learn?"

Jack shakes his head, no. "I've never seen them on the road before." He says in reply to Korym.

------

Aurora nods. "I would appreciate that very much, thank you."

------

The caravan travels until just before nightfall where the majority of the wagons make stop at a roadside inn, including the known cultist wagon; the building is three stories tall and very large, a wooden sign 'The Rambling Man', hangs beside the first floor door.

True to his obligation Jack pulls his wagon in as well. The smell of roasting meat wafts from one of the chimneys on the three story building, while the sounds of laughing and merrymaking can be heard coming from inside the first floor.

"I've been here before, this is a safe enough place to hole up for a night, good axe-beak stew. Though, I would prefer at least one of you stay with the wagon." Jack says as he dismounts the wagon and cracks his back. "Dinner is on me, whomever is staying with the wagon I will have the girl bring their dinner out to them." He finishes as he begins digging through a travel bag hanging from his wagon, and pocketing an item before heading inside.

---
The only people that depart from the cultist wagon are the large armored man and a red wizard, who make their way inside the inn; at least four guards can be seen remaining with the wagon.

Hope, who walked in silence, looked at Jack. “I’ll stay behind and keep a look out - though tomorrow i may need a seat in the wagon to sleep along the way.”

She pulls the others aside. “Keep an eye on the warrior and wizard - I’ll watch the wagon.”

Einar grins at the girl softly "My dear girl everyone starts some where, and it never gets any easier. Think of it as us wanting to pass on knowledge to the next adventurers. If this quest guys the way I think it will I might die again" He sighs deeply looking back in the direction of where Greenhest is. "Saving my home came at a price after all." His hand drifts to the scar on his chest which he rubs softly.

Looking to Einar and Saphira, Korym says, "If you can watch the pair that went into the tavern, I will stay out here with Hope. I don't feel that any of us should be alone with this group all around us."

The elf climbs onto Bermon's wagon and gets as comfortable as be can, being sure that he can see the large Cultist wagon.

"Tell Bermon to send Aurora out with two meals if you don't mind!" he adds with a grin.

Saphira nodded to Hope and Korym, and followed Jack, Aurora and Einar to the town's inn. There, she tried to stay out of the way of the known cultists, having to refrain to cut them down here and now, her meditation training straining to contain her vow of vengeance. Ordering 2 extra meals on Jack's coins, she went back outside to bring the meals to the self appointed guards, letting Einar know where she was going.

As he finishes the last morsels of his dinner, Korym looks to Hope. "The elf-woman that we saw in Selebon's shop, the one who was with the warrior named Kollus. She is left in the wagon while Kollus and the Red Wizard go in to eat. He treats her as a lesser.

It looks to me that she is only with him due to fear or perhaps some other form enthrallment.

Tonight might not be the time, but tomorrow morning I can prepare a spell of Invisibility. Would you care to perhaps do some spying tomorrow night and see what you can learn from listening to their discussions?"

The night passed with little of note. The cultist and Red wizard who went into the inn stayed the night in there, while the rest of their party stayed outside with the wagons, along with a majority of the other Caravanners.

-------

The next morning the caravan set out just before first light, largely due to the cult wagons pulling out regardless of whether or not the others came along.

Jack yawns and stretches before climbing up into the driver seat. "Well nothing like an early start to a day I guess." He says as he motions to Aurora, who climbs into the back of the wagon and begins handing out bread and cheese from a pack she brought with her from the inn.

"Had a chance to buy breakfast though." Jack says as he takes the portion handed to him. "We are looking at two more days of good travel... then we hit the 'Fields of The Dead', which as the name suggests is not a great place to hang out."

Korym yawns, as he accepts the bread and cheese from Aurora. After eating, he finds a spot in the wagon where he can sit quietly, and he falls into a restful trance.

After four hours, he stretches and looks about before studying his spellbook for a period. He will then take the opportunity to walk alongside the wagon for a period to stretch his legs.

---

Trance for 4 hours for a long rest. Change Shatter for Invisibility.

Saphira invited Aurora to her morning drills, finding a secluded spot away from the cultists wagons. She showed the younger woman the basic stances with a longsword, having her practice as she did her katas with her bladed staff, giving her advices and correcting her until the time to leave came.

When Jack mentionned their route, she listened in before asking "Why did those fields gained that name? Are there any dangers we should prepare for?"

Hope seemed almost a shadow throughout her watch, quiet and sharp. When morning came, she looked tired, though seemed ready to move.

As the breakfast is handed out, she takes it and squeezes in the back of the cart, ready to rest while travelling. "A place called 'the fields of the dead' is bound to have such. Why can't these bastards go towards the 'hotsprings of healing and rest' or 'Field of mutual respect'......no, always death, destruction and chaos." She adjusted herself. "While you ride, i'm gonna sleep - wake me if anythiing happens."

"Well I don't know all the details, but centuries ago it used to be a pretty happening spot for wars, countless battles happened there, and many of the great kings of the past and their armies were killed and buried there on the fields of battle.

Now, it's rolling fields and farmland; cursed farmland. Not sure why anyone is willing to farm there, but I guess when you plow your field and a corpse of an old soldier is unearthed you just toss it aside and go about your day, until the zombies and vengeful dead come to repay the kindness." Jack says without his normal sarcastic tone.

"Zombies?! Really? People just farm a graveyard?" Aurora asks, barely containing an alarmed tone.

"Not exactly, thousands of earthen cairns and rusting sword grave markers dot the landscape, the people mostly farm where the grave's aren't but still zombies happen. But they're not the biggest concern, no the biggest concern are the undead that still have their minds but no bodies to speak of; and the lights, never follow the lights at night, ever. People who do, probably wind up as those zombies we were speaking of."

"Master Bermon has the right of it, Aurora. There have been hundreds of battles fought in this area. People from the south deciding to conquer the lands to the north, or the opposite.

Unfortunately not all that are dead remain that way. They sometimes rise up as undead and are typically evil to the core, regardless of what they were when living.

Let's hope that our journey through the area is uneventful. Though it would be interesting to have the chance to see something out of the ordinary" Korym adds the last with a bit of wistfulness in his voice.

The serious Saphira frowned at the wizard's wistful comment. "Be careful what you wish for, Korym. Undeads are not to be trifled with and zombies are surprisingly difficult to stop. They don't feel pain so you have to make sure they can't move anymore to destroy them. Skeletons are faster and can use weapons, even bows, so an ambush by them can quickly turn deadly. Pray Tyr that the crossing of those plains IS uneventful."

The hidden voice of hope can be heard from the cart. "Zombies or not, lets just be careful....i'd rather not have to outrun them when i've had no sleep."

Korym grins a little sheepishly. "I've read extensively about many types of undead, Saphira. But seeing them for real...well...I expect you and Hope are right."

As the day rolls on with the sun climbing ever higher into the sky, it becomes apparent that the group is being followed.

For most of the day a middle-aged human man, wearing a wide brimmed hat and rugged looking traveling clothes riding upon a small pony, has been following the wagon; he has been doing his best to pretend that he isn't eyeing the party, so much so that whenever anyone glances in his direction he quickly glances off into the distance, sometimes whistling as he does so.

A little after noon, as the caravan stops for lunch, the man approaches the party after they have sat down for their meal, walking straight up to Korym. "Greetings fellow traveler I couldn't help but notice that fine necklace you have there with the green stone about it. I was wondering if you wouldn't mind parting ways with it for the right price? Say twenty copper?" The man asks a wide smile on his face his eyes fixated on the necklace.

Korym looks at the man curiously. "You noticed this little crystal from so far away? While your eyesight is acute, your appraisal skills are not.

This was gifted to me by my instructor many years ago. It's value is more sentimental than monetary. Although I expect it is worth a bit more than 20 copper."

The elf watches the man carefully, still curious why he might be interested in his arcane focus.

---

Korym Nightstar rolled 17 for Insight (WIS).

Einar shifts a bit as he sits there watching the man as he eats his meal ready to spring in to action if things get outta hand. Not that it should in this setting but just in case after all fights have been started over less before.

The man shifts his weight as he speaks. "My vision is pretty good if I do say so myself; but on the topic at hand I meant no offense; it's just an opening offer after all; and I can appreciate that it has some sentimental value, so I will increase my offer. How does five silver sound?" The man asks, his eyes never leaving the necklace.

----

"I'm sorry, sir, but it is simply not for sale. At any price."

Saphira eyed the old man at it tried to haggle to get Korym's necklace, and she racked her brain trying to remember if she had seen him before, especially with the dragon cultists.

Not sure what roll you would require for that but heres a straight D20, bonus to be added if needed

Today: Saphira Prideflare rolled 19 using 1d20 with rolls of 19.  d20 roll, bonus to be added depending on the skill used.

The man lets out a huff. "Very well, I can see it means a great deal to you. With that I will bid you all a good day." He says turning and walking back to his pony, where he begins rustling through his saddle bag.

----

After lunch the caravan once again packs up and begins to move. Jack speaks up as he snaps the reigns. "Tonight we sleep outside, no more stops between here and the Fields of The Dead. So pray the weather holds, or we are going to be getting comfortable under the wagon together for shelter."

The dozing half elf in the wagon barely heard the comments, but spoke softly. "I'll watch overnight again." She didn't like the thought, but of the group, she was the quietest and best at hiding in darkness.

Korym watches the merchant as he walks away. "That was...odd," he notes, looking unsettled by the entire conversation.


"I will join you again." After a pause, the elf asks Hope, [Language unknown: Mo onwaaril wh porean di matr m notdayoer. Ai an oreeratra tioortratwer?]

Saphira had taken some time during the meal to have Aurora practice her basic stance, after the stranger had left. The paladin had a very hand-on approach to teaching, demonstrating the moves and correcting as the exercise went on. As the caravan prepared to move on, she gave a nod and smile to her new pupil "You are progressing well, Aurora. Remember though, practice is the only way you will ingrain those moves in yourself and they will become second nature. Your goal has to be to do them without thinking. Anyone else saw that strange man before? I don't recall seeing him except just now. "

In reply to Saphira Aurora shakes her head as she wipes the sweat from her brow. "No; I've never seen him before."

------

As the day passes to evening the so-called Fields of the Dead come into view as farmland gives way to overgrown fields with hundreds of swords sticking from raised mounds and the odd gravestone stretching for as far as the eye can see.

As the sun finally sets the caravan once again comes to a stop; pulling off to the side of the road.

Jack turns and begins rummaging through the wagon pulling a rolled-up blanket and pillow from among the items. "Well, it looks like this is where we are holing up for the night.

Remember this is not friendly territory. Anything you eat for dinner needs to be already cooked or doesn't need to be, no campfires, and nothing brighter than a hooded lantern, while we are here. And whatever you do, don't follow the lights at night.

I'm going to be sleeping under the wagon. If you hear the dead, please let everyone else know, I don't feel like being eaten." He says. Then turns and tends to the horses and locks the wagon's wheels, before throwing his bedding down under the wagon and making himself comfortable.

Hope woke towards the end of the trip, sitting on the wagon as it went. When the fields came into view, she grimaced. "....so it begins." she muttered.

When they pulled to a stop, she was the first out, with her weapons close by. "I had some jerky a while back - as long as there's water close i am fine" She looked at Korym.

She pulled out a dagger and picked up a piece of wood, and started whittling. "Get rest while you can - i have a feeling it will be disturbed before we are through."

Korym offers Hope his waterskin, as he nibbles on some dried fruit, nuts, and cheese.


"A very good idea."

"Shadow, we need you to keep watch over us. Anything or anybody that approaches this camp come and let me know." The elf feeds the little bat a few raisins before sending her off into the gathering darkness.

Einar quickly chews down his jerky and water before finding a spot to sleep for a bit. "Wake me when I'm needed or my watch comes up."

A few hours after dark once everyone has finally fallen asleep, a thick heavy fog begins to rise up from the ground. In almost no time at all visibility drops to only a foot or so in front of anyone on watch.

The air is still, and the sounds of life have all fallen away, leaving an eerie silence in their absence.

Soon, off to the east or is it the west... or north? The fog makes it impossible to determine direction or distance. The fog begins to glow an eerie yellow color; then in another direction another glow begins to illuminate the fog, and another and another, until four distinct glowing lights can be discerned.

The lights are static for a time, but soon they begin to move about circling the area, sometimes fading out before reappearing in another direction, their illumination growing and fading, making a determination of distance even more impossible in the fog.

Hope sat on the edge of the cart, watching as the fog came up, and she frowned. "Well....that's convenient." she muttered, dagger in hand. She shrugged as she sat there.....if she couldn't see others, they couldn't see her.

She stood up, her eyes peeled for movement or sounds, only the light appearing and disappearing the only signs

"I've never seen fog rise up from the ground like this. Something supernatural, I suspect."

Once the lights started to appear, Korym noted, "Definitely supernatural! Do you suppose the walking dead are approaching?"

Then as an afterthought, he adds, "Berman told us to not follow lights at night, I surmise these are the lights he was talking about."
This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 09:29, Sat 03 June 2023.

For the next few hours which seem to last for an eternity, the lights drift about the camp growing in intensity, or perhaps coming closer, before dimming again, or perhaps falling further away.

Then around four in the morning the lights fade completely, and the fog begins to dissipate allowing pale moonlight to illuminate the camp area.

Hope watched with daggers in hand as the lights came and went in alternate times and ways. She said nothing, in a cat-like state of reediness for any trouble. When it started to quiet down, and the mist faded, she still was vigilant until morning

Once the fog and mysterious lights dissipate, Korym is visibly less tense. He takes some time to stretch the kinks out of his body, and will circle Berman's wagons now and then.

At one point he says to Hope, "I have no idea what that fog and those lights were, but Shadow could not see where the lights were coming from at all. Something out of the ordinary for certain."

Not long after the sun comes up there is a loud commotion from further up in the convoy, culminating in a woman screaming.

Up ahead one of the men who has been walking alongside one of the cultist's wagons as a guard has shoved the man who had attempted to buy Korym's focus the previous day to the ground, and is shouting at him, before reaching to draw a dagger from his belt, as the prone man attempts to scramble away.

o.o.c. anyone who wishes to do anything will need an initiative roll; your group is considered thirty feet from the scene.

Saphira frowned at the display of violence perpetrated by the cultist guard and turned to the others "Cover me". She purposely walked towards the altercation. "What is happening here? What did this man do to deserve having a weapon drawn at him?"

Today: Saphira Prideflare rolled 13 using 1d20 with rolls of 13.  initiative .
This message was last edited by the player at 14:57, Sun 11 June 2023.

"Hey there, stop!" Korym shouts to the cultist guard.

The elf runs to the fracas, and stands between the guard and the prone man. "What's going on?" he asks, as a glowing rod appears in his hand.

---

Korym Nightstar rolled 21 for Initiative.
Move: 30 feet, in front of the guard.
Action: Minor Conjuration, create a 3-foot long wooden staff. Strictly for distraction!
Reaction: Cast Shield, if guard attacks and it will help.

o.o.c.

Initiative
Korym
Saphira
Guard 1

As the man falls to the ground and begins scrambling away the cult's guard draws his dagger ready for blood.

However before he can actually pursue the cowering man Korym bolts into the fray placing himself between the man and the guard, distracting the guardsman long enough that Saphira has had enough time to walk up.

"Out of my way, this man is a thief, and if you don't let me at him this wont end well for you either." He says angrily, but without striking.

End round 1
--------
Begin Round 2

"Saphira, can you get him, please?" Korym asks the paladin, over his shoulder, indicating the so-called thief.

"Let's see if we can't resolve this without bloodshed." The wizard crosses his arms to make sure that they are not visibly shaking.

~ Where's Hope when I need her to do the talking? ~ he thought to himself.

Hope wanted to stay out of the argument, wanted to stay undercover - but the situation escalated fast....and when they threatened Korym she couldn't stand back.

Drawing her own dagger she quickly came up beside Korym. "My advice is you stop and think friend before something bad happens." she loomed at Korym and spoke Elvish. [Language unknown: "Icas er k dinantate oneortherore ri nt."]

She sighed and pointed her dagger at the man. "I've had little sleep, I'm cold and I'm hungry - you don't want to piss me off today. So what about you turn around, we will take him and have a chat."

She loomed at sapphire and pointed at the merchant. "Pick him up - he'll ruin his outfit." she then looks at the guard her own dagger in hand. "Now....tell me what he stole."

---

<OOC:  'Hope' rolled 22 using 1d20+3.  Iniative.>


This message was last edited by the player at 00:52, Sun 18 June 2023.

[Language unknown: Te maecof red be ho thiineate mo ekng eenourtha a iveandthi saun'noev. Stlien U ai om ateortcon reno e!] Korym responds in a quiet voice.

The frail looking paladin took an handful of the man's shirt and lifted him easily from the ground, keeping him suspended on the tip of his toes. "Is that so? Why don't we we avoid all bloodshed and give back what was stolen, if that is really the case here. Surely you can see the wisdom of that path?

o.o.c.

Initiative:
Hope
Korym
Saphira
Guard 1

After Saphira raises the man from the ground and turns him to face the group, the man raises his hands up in surrender. "I surrender! I didn't steal anything! Please don't hurt me!." He begs.

"Lies! I awake this morning to my ring missing, the very one you were pestering me about the other day! I am to believe it wasn't you?" The guard says pointing his finger accusingly at the man, keeping a side eye on Hope.

End round 2
--------
Begin Round 3

The exotic looking woman lifted the old man another inch from the ground, looking at him with dark hard eyes. "You pestered this man for his ring, and my elven companion for his amulet, what do you want with those? Answer truthfully, before I become tempted to give you up for popular justice. Where is that ring?"

Today: Saphira Prideflare rolled 14 using 1d20+5 with rolls of 9.  intimidation.

22:24, Today: Saphira Prideflare rolled 18 using 1d20 with rolls of 18.  insight
This message was last edited by the player at 02:33, Sun 25 June 2023.

Korym glances at Hope, "What if the guard describes the ring, and then we just search the merchant?" he whispers.

Hope, standing in front of the guard with dagger in her hand. "Be that as it may, you may have overreacted - a blade out, threatening a merchant over a ring." She shrugged. She made no move to remove herself out of the way, but spoke to the merchant now.

"I suggest you start talking or offer proof. I don't want him to kill you - a death in a caravan is not good business, but you deceive us, i'll let him search you." She pointedly looked at the guards. "...once his weapons are away."

o.o.c.

Initiative:
Hope
Korym
Saphira
Guard 1

The man once again pleads. "I swear I've taken nothing; this is all a misunderstanding! I am no thief. How am I to prove my innocence?"

It is at this point the majority of the caravan has surrounded the scene, everyone curious as to what is going on. But most importantly, the heavyset man who seems to be leading the cultist's wagon has stepped out from his wagon his arms crossed and his eyes fixed on Hope.

End round 3
--------
Begin Round 4

Hope spots the heavy-set man from the caravan and mutters. "Shit"

She looks at the man and tilts her head. "If your innocent, will you permit a search then of yourself - in interest of you staying alive."

She turns and looks at the guards again, but spoke in elvish. [Language unknown: "Ll o p oun po u olasni. Il day ee?"]

[Language unknown: Es re.] Korym replies to Hope quietly.

Korym lets his right arm fall to his side, still holding the glowing rod. He takes a step back as if to allow the guard to speak more directly to Hope, and to provide room for the merchant to be searched.

He quickly estimates where best to place a Web if the situation escalated.

Saphira still held the man by his shirt but lowered him enough so he could stand on his own feet. She addressed the man, in a low tone. "I think you might be telling the truth, in that case, let yourself be searched for that ring. That will placate the man accusing you, and I will make sure there is no more violence. It is in your best interest to comply.

Today: Today: Saphira Prideflare rolled 11 using 1d20+5 with rolls of 6.  persuasion

--- End turn by turn initiative ---

The man agrees to the search of both himself and his mount, neither have the missing ring.

"You see! I had nothing to do with your missing item!" The man exclaims as the cult guardsman looks through the items he has unceremoniously dumped upon the road, from the man's saddle bag.

"Or perhaps you've hidden it y..." The guardsman says before being interrupted by the cultist leader, who shoves his way into the middle of the situation. "That's enough guardsman; get back to the caravan we are leaving, you have wasted enough of our time here for something as trivial as a ring."

"Yes master Kollus." The guardsman says seemingly knowing better than to protest. Kollus follows the man as he leaves, staring down the party as he passes without a word.

----

There is a moment of quiet as the merchant tucks his coat, gathering his nerves. He then gets on his hands and knees picking up his items from the road.

Korym watches Kollus walk away, before letting out his breath. He gives a nod to his comrades, and says quietly, "Well done. Thank you."

Realising that he is still holding the glowing rod, and that it is visibly shaking, the wizard strikes a rock with it, and it vanishes. He then squats down and helps the merchant gather his belongings.

"May I suggest you refrain from trying to purchase anything from anyone in the caravan while we are travelling?"

Hope, her dagger still in hand watched as the wagon master reigned in his guard. She sheathed the dagger as the man left and sighed, then looked at the man. “I apologise for making you do that, but nothing else would have satisfied him, and if he wasn’t, he would have attacked you.” she placed her hands in her hips. “…and I’d rather not spill blood between caravans.”

She looked at Korym and winked, then back again. “Perhaps you might want to specifically avoid that group….they seem a bit high strung.”

Saphira had to restrain herself to not jump on the cultist leader and instead spent her built up energy on helping the man gather his things. She nodded to the wisdom of Hope's comment, still turning to the man to get some answers. "You should heed Hope's advice, but before you go back to the tail of the caravan and stay there, answer this question. Why are you pester peoples to get their trinkets? What it is about those items that you are willing to risk life and limbs for?"

The man nods at the advice given him, and when asked the question by Saphira he speaks up. "I didn't annoy anyone so bad they were willing to kill me. He lost his ring and It's not my fault, besides who loses a ring and then tries to kill someone over it?

Anyway, I'm a merchant, if I see something I can procure and make a profit on it I go for it, usually the worst that can happen is people say no.

Now then, I suppose I owe you lot my life. I don't have much money right now, but if there is anything you need and I can do for you, let me know. Now that being said I owe you something, so please take this." The man says reaching into his coat retrieving a small vial filled with a muddy liquid with small animal parts, like a small eyeball and a tiny creature's tongue. "I was hoping to sell it for a decent profit, but as it is the most valuable thing I have at the moment it will have to do for payment." He says presenting the vial.


-------
O.O.C. The vial is a Potion of Animal Friendship.

Korym listens to the merchant and feels a bit sorry for him. "We're happy to help. I'm Korym Nightstar, from Silverymoon by the way. Hopefully our next interaction will be less confrontational!"

Hope looked at the man, and even as he offered the potion, she shook her head. "Keep it - you may be able to help out in other ways." She indicated their camp to sit as she leaned against the caravan.

"I respect you wanting to make some coin, but you gotta be smart out here - someone could just sneak up on you, kill you in your sleep and no one would be the wiser. Pick your battles."

She reached into her pack and removed a waterski and took a drink. "As to paymeny - maybe some information on that caravan over there..." Pointing to the draconic group. "....you obviously got a close look. Can you tell us anything about them? How many there are, what they look to be carrying and if their all edgy halfwits like that one?"

The man nods to Korym and re-pockets the potion, after Hope refuses it. He then rubs his chin as he ponders an answer to Hope's question, "Well lets see, I'm not too sure how many there are in their group, I wasn't exactly taking note. I would assume there are three wagons; at least if the attitudes of the guards are any indication of association.

And while I wouldn't say they were all as quick to temper as the man who tried to accost me; they were all surprisingly tight lipped, it was like pulling teeth to get any kind of response that was longer than one word; Also I get they are guards and I wasn't snooping but they were very protective of their wagons, oddly obsessive now that I think about it.

Now let me think... I did notice that in at least one they are hauling passengers. But again I wasn't snooping and I never got a good look in either of the other two wagons." He says as he readies his mount to continue on with the rest of the caravan.

Hope looked at the group and smiled a half smile - the 'passengers' was all the confirmation she needed. She looked at the man with a serious look. "I'd stay away from them if i were you - their not what they seem to be." He slapped the man on the shoulder then looked at the others.

"I think we found what we were looking for - now gotta figure out where they're off to, or how to stop them."

Saphira glared towards the cultists then sighed and shook her head. "I am not one to sneak around, I prefer direct confrontation. But I am not stupid either and can see that we need to split them up to take them on. To attack while in the caravan would only turn the rest of the merchants guards against us too. But if we wait after the caravan disband, we risk losing them. I am open to suggestions."

Korym chuckles quietly. "You've forgotten that Leosin and Ontharr want us to follow the cultists and locate their hideout in the north.

The four of us attacking their caravan will not gain the information we need, and will most likely result in the death of most, if not all, of us!

Our time for avenging Greenest is not now."

Hope winced and nodded. "We follow - bide our time and see where these bastards are going......i just hate slavery." She clenched her fists at her side

The paladin looked at Hope. Slavery is only one of the numerous reasons we need to stop those cultists, but I have to admit you are both right. I will call on my patience. Aurora, come, we will practice. Barely waiting for her pupil, the woman moved a little way further and started to teach the girl basic foot movements, and told her to repeat them, as she started a fighting routine with her double bladed staff, the movement practiced hundred of times already, but there was an hard edge to her cuts in mid air... it was not hard to imagine that in her mind, she was cutting cultists limbs.

Several weeks have passed since the incident with the merchant and the time in the Fields of The Dead is finally drawing to a close, the relentless fog and creepy lights that rise and haunt the caravan every night have begun to happen less and less frequently as the caravan reaches the borders of the fields.

The cultists have thus far kept a low profile, not causing anymore incidents, but their guards do keep a more watchful eye on the party, especially the one who's ring was stolen; it not being uncommon to see him watching intently what the party is doing when the caravan is halted.

Aurora has come a long way in the short time she has been training under Saphira, and while she is still a novice swordsman, she is proving to be a quick study.

"Next stop is Soubar everyone, no more sleeping outdoors, well mostly. It's a bit of a shanty town, with no real rulership and fairly lawless, but they do have inns and beds." Jack says as the group officially passes out of the Fields. "We should reach it by nightfall if we can keep this pace."

"Sounds wonderful. While I have to admit, sleeping outdoors has become less disagreeable, a bed would be a welcome change."

Saphira was both pleased and displeased at the notion of stopping at a lawless town. She would probably have to restrain herself from intervening in crime in progress to avoid blowing her cover, and anyway if there was no law, there would be no lawpersons to apply it. But maybe there was something else than a inn that could help her. "Do you know if there is a temple? As long as its is in the light, I could go pray there." The paladin had been praying to Tyr everyday, but would probably have to ask forgiveness this time around...

Hope's trip had been one of watchfulness. She spent most of her time on guard overnight, so during the day she slept. She had noticed (more than once) that during their stops, the caravan guards would look at their group more than the others.

Given what happened, she expected that.

when they were coming up on Soubar, she sighed. "It'll be nice to sleep some of the night again." She admitted.

She had once been to Soubar, and had no problem with the 'lawlessness' of the town - most of her life had been avoiding the law.

This trip had been entirely to boring for Einar's taste but at least they were getting somewhere. As it stood he mostly just helped with Aurora's training since he was a decent swordsman himself and it wasn't like he had anything better to do.

Jack laughed. "Temple? No, no temples, you will be lucky to find a shrine. The place is little more than a glorified worker's village; winter part of the year the population drops by two thirds. The majority of the people there are seasonal loggers, and a few tradesmen like hunters and blacksmiths and such who swarm to the place for work while the weather is good.

But there is a small ruin not far from there that might have belonged to a dead god maybe, so I guess there is that."

The paladin nodded to Jack's explanation then asked "How long will the stop be in this place? I'd be curious to visit those ruins, but only if we have the time. And we can't lose sight that our goal is to shadow the cultists. So at least two of us must stay on those monsters all the time. If we stay long enough, who would want to come explore? She looked at her companions.

GM to GM, if that's not a hook, I don't know what it is lol

Hope looked at Saphira and nodded. "Oh....you know i'll want to look around!" she said with a smile

"At the very least it's something intresting to break the boring of this trip."

Korym shakes his head with a smile. "Fine. I will stay and watch the cultists while the rest of you go gallivanting about the ruins. But I will send Shadow with you. If something goes wrong, just tap her on the head twice and she will come and get me."

Once the caravan arrives in Soubar, Korym takes a room in the same inn as Bermon. He spends some time focussed on his little bat companion, who eventually jumps onto Hope's shoulder as the trio leaves to explore the ruins.

"I plan to stay the night at least; and the ruin is about an hour by horseback from the town." Jack says looking and squinting as he stares into the sky watching as some flying creatures circle about high above.

-----

The caravan makes good time to the next stop, and everyone is happy to be out of the fields, several cheers can be heard from a few of the merchants as the town comes into view.

Calling it a town was something of an overstatement, the place is indeed a worker's village with a look of a shantytown about it; simple wooden buildings and tents comprise the majority of the "buildings" with only a few true large wooden buildings standing over the other shacks much like impressive stone buildings would in a larger town.

As it is closing in on evening there are a large number of campfires pumping smoke into the air and the smell of cooking food hangs on the breeze.

----

As the caravan begins to split up, some merchants disembarking while others find shelter for the night, Jack pulls his wagon up to one of the larger wooden buildings 'Broken Bow Inn and Saloon'. "As promised here we are, a real bed. I am going to go get us some rooms before the place gets booked up." He says dismounting the wagon and handing Aurora the reigns and instructing her to tie the horses up.

Saphira helped her pupil with the horses, and once the rooms were secured and the horses tended, she smiled to Hope and Einar. "Are you ready for a little walk and exploration?". The paladin seemed a little excited, ready to plunged into some action, the weeks of travel having been long and boring for the action oriented woman.

Hope helped unload the gear and settle things. When the topic came of exploring, she nodded, a small satchel at her side as well as her weapons. "Sure am - something other than watching caravans move like snails is gonna be fun."

"I will think of you wandering through the ruins while I enjoy a glass of wine. And, of course, I will be vigilant in observing the cultists.

Don't forget Hope, two taps on the head and Shadow will fly back to get me. Not that I am likely to be any help if the three of you get into trouble!" Korym adds with a smile.

Jack sits at one of the chairs next to Korym, a mug in his hand, leaning back with a relaxing sigh. "You can go on with them, The girl and I will watch your cultists for..." Before he can finish speaking, shouting can be heard coming from outside the inn.

Soon a man bursts into the tavern followed by another helping a wounded third limp into the building. The commotion causes the patrons to fall silent and look toward the man who shouts.

"WE NEED A HEALER MY FRIEND HERE IS HURT!" He shouts as the wounded man is lifted onto the nearest table a large wooden thorn in his chest sticking straight up from his body.

Saphira gripped her bladed staff in a fighting pose when she heard the screams, before moving towards the commotion. Seeing the man with the huge thorn in his chest, she frowned "What happened here? Was this man attacked?" The woman looked the man over to see if she could safely remove that thorn before using her Tyr given powers to heal him.

Today: Saphira Prideflare rolled 17 using 1d20 with rolls of 17.  medecine.

Hope was ready to leave when the door burst open, and she had a dagger in her hand, almost by reflex alone. The travel along the road, as well as the nights doing watch had brought her to the edge of reediness, and the sudden sound had her reaction like a viper.

She sighed and sheathed her dagger at her hip. "Great....we're saving the realms already." she said with a bite of sarcasm

O.O.C. The thorn is two feet long and extending from his chest, it has pierced a lung. The man is dying and will die if magical healing is not given soon, that or surgical procedures that are far too sensitive for someone without any specialized tools.

In answer to Saphira's question the man who had been shouting for help speaks. "He was attacked by the forest!"

"He was attacked by Druids! Had to be." The man who carried the injured man says. "We saw a stag while hunting, it was thirteen feet tall at the shoulder and it's hair and antlers were made of gold! We gave chase to it as it escaped us into the forest. It wasn't long before we were turned around and lost, wind began to rustle through the trees carrying the whispered voices of women, then we saw the stag again by chance drinking from a stream Kavin here fired his crossbow at it, and vines swatted the arrow away, the stag fled; and then the wind picked up again, dirt, leaves, small twigs, everything began to swirl about and the voices of the women speaking some tongue I don't know sounded angry. It was in that chaos we noticed he had been run through with this thorn... It was after that we fled and somehow made it clear of the forest, they let us go I guess." He says as he watches Saphira look his comrade over.

Korym is shocked at the size of the thorn piercing the man's chest, but holds his tongue, to take in the story from the injured man's companion.

"Are druids known to be in the area? And have they even shown animosity toward the villagers?"

Saphira took the injured man and lifted him on a table, not caring at all about the content of said table or it's occupants... let them try to protest when a life was in play. Taking the torn with her hand, she said "This is going to hurt" and pulled quickly, before the man had time to react to her comment. "Tyr, grant me the power to help this soul stay alive." Immediately, the prayer was answered and her eyes and hands started to glow a bright white, as she brought her hand over the wound.

5 Points of lay of hands healing

Hope frowned at the description of what the man said. "if thats druids, then their powerful ones." She looked at the others. "....but given the size and description of that stag, i'd be thinking less nature-loving tree huggers that are pissed off, and more nature spirits or gods."

She crossed her arms. "Clear warning of 'do not harm the animals' if you ask me."

Einar looks over and frowns a bit at the story druids attacking randomly that sounds outta character at least for the ones he knows. But he shrugs a bit staying outta the way of the little healer after all he was the silent brooding hit them with the stick type.

After the healing magics had done their work the man gasps and coughs up the blood that had been in his lungs, before laying his head back and sighing in relief. "Thank you miss, I can never repay you for this." He says weakly as his strength returns to him.

At this point the large man who has been leading the cultists shoves his way up to the group past several onlookers. "Tell me was the fur and antlers of this beast truly gold, or just gold tinted?"

"No it was of gold, the light shone off it as if it were made of the metal."

Looking to Hope the man sneers. "Well I for one fear no forest spirits! My blade will cleave their flesh as well as it will any other. I would have that stag." He then turns to the crowd in the tavern. "Whoever brings me the beast, dead or alive before sundown in three days will be rewarded with one thousand gold pieces!" He shouts.

After the bounty had been placed, the excitement in the inn grows to a fever pitch before men and women begin to stampede out of the establishment seeking their fortunes, soon the entire town is abuzz with dozens upon dozens of would-be hunters storming into the night in the direction of the forest with whatever weapons they could muster.

The large leader of the cultists also storms out a large grin upon his face as he makes his way back to his caravan.

----

Aurora pounces into the inn a short time later a huge excited smile on her face. "Hey guess what, I heard a rumor there is a thousand gold piece bounty on some crazy stag around here! Can we go for it!"

Jack groans into his mug. "Well it looks like we will be staying here for a while."

"I suppose that's the end of my wine-sipping respite," Korym jokes.


But the smile quickly slips from his face at the young girl's enthusiasm. "Killing what might be a very special creature just for some coin is not...honourable." The elf struggled to come up with a descriptor that fits his thoughts.

His voice lowered, as he added, "Especially when the coin is being offered by the cult that is responsible for razing Greenest and killing uncountable innocents."

"While I will not participate in this hunt, I am intrigued about the stag, and the obvious magicks that the woodsman described. That in itself might be worth investigating if we are here for three days."

Hope stood by as the stories flew and smiled. "While agree with Korym, i'm a bit curious why a stag would be so different." She smiled at the man and nodded. "...and to show up that oversized blowhard may be fun too."

Saphira scowled and muttered about the stupidity and greed of men, still holding the giant thorn in her hand. When Aurora arrived with her youthful excitement for the news of the hunt, she rolled her eyes before pointing to the man on the table and the thorn. "I would not recommend participating in that fools errand, Aurora. Someone, or something, powerful protects that unnatural stag, and I did swore to your mother to keep you safe. I might have saved that man's life with the grace of Tyr, but I won't be able to do so for all those idiots that are running in harm's way. No, it is not a wise course of action. In the temple, I've read about some stories about gods or other powerful beings polymorphing into animals to experience the world in another way, this might be the case here. And I would not want to tangle with a god."

"While there is no reason to kill the stag, aside from just getting gold. This may be more of a trap from the cult just to get people spread out to pick them off one at a time."  Einar shrugs a bit as he leans back in his chair shaking his head. "We should prolly check it out at the least just to keep an eye on things."

The paladin scratched her head, thinking. "Einar, you might be on to something... Where is the man that brought this one! We need to interrogate him right now! Think, what better way to empty a camp than a wild goose chase to steal the rest of the caravan, the cultist are looking for valuables after all! And they all fell for it!" She got up and started looking for the man in question.

"Saphira!" Korym exclaimed as the paladin got up from the table.

"Our mission is to follow the cultists and locate their northern hideout, not to provoke them into a fight here.

But your logic is sound. We should be on alert some activity here while everyone else is in the woods."

Hope couldn't help but smile at the others. "Damnit - your starting to think like me. About time too."

She drew a dagger and cleaned it. "Maybe two fronts....someone keeps watch here, while someone goes and keeps an eye on teh fool cultists."

O.O.C. I am writing this post as though Korym talked Saphira down from her investigation, if I am wrong let me know and I will adjust the post accordingly.

----
The injured man once more approaches the group after he has recuperated while his friends who carried him in make their way to the bar.

"Thank you again for saving my life. I simply can't thank you enough for doing what you did. My name is Kavin, I'm a native here, if there is anything I can do for you, let me know."

-----

As the group begins their watch, the large cultist ringleader can be seen gathering the other cultists who have been guarding their wagons on this journey and the elusive scarred and meek elven woman that was with him back in Ackyn's shop.

After a short conversation to the guards and the elven woman, in which it seems the ringleader gets somewhat agitated at the elf and simply points to the forest to emphasize his point, most of the guards leave following the elven woman toward the forest, leaving only six guards to watch over their wagons. As for the ringleader he can be seen speaking with a red wizard in the back of one of the wagons before stepping up into it himself and out of sight.

The rest of the night passes with little of note, after midnight some of the would be hunters come crawling back to town empty handed but not many.

Einar just glances over at the guards for a moment before nudging hope with his boot as now would be a good time to check things out if you can be sneaky "Hopefully the forest doesn't get to busy tonight after all alot of cultist just went in to it

Hope seemingly sat at the camp asleep, her eyes closed as Einar poked her. She smiled as he spoke. "I was thinking the same, my burly and not-so-subtle friend. Some poking around may prove to be in order."

She opened an eye and looked at Korym. "Can your flying rat scope the area out before i go...i don't want any surpirses."

Saphira was not subtle enough to go sneak around, prefering the direct, blade in hand, approach. She shook her head at Einar and Hope but did not try to stop them. "Just don't get caught... or if you do, make sure it's by cultist we can cut down in... self defense."

That was all the sneakiness the palladin could muster while respecting her oaths.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:16, Fri 27 Oct 2023.

"Careful Hope, you'll hurt Shadow's feelings." The wizard gives the little bat a rub on the ears.

"I can send Shadow to scout the caravans and then off to the forest to see if she can make out what is going out there."

---

Making the assumption we will head to the forest...I can edit if the decision is to snoop around the wagons.

Shadow flits off circling the wagons a few times before setting out for the forest.

It is about half an hour later when shadow returns to land on Korym's shoulder.

[Language unknown: Undou onat re userll, yin is. Venerawil m thprur theousmen hatlatcomurenti. Antartsti todin whngna t il melelo asone hoth ee m el ers fi, dinti I ame ai yinticenc kortedica aioun ncthe.]

"Two people in one wagon, the leader and the wizard, no doubt. With guards about.

Sounds like the forest is swarming with hunters. And...just a moment."

Korym focuses on the little bat,

Hope sits casually, flipping a dagger in her hand. "The wizard and guards sound ricky - we do the forest and some of those bastards get 'lost', the blame won't be pointed at us."

The bat tilts it's head.
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:44, Sun 29 Oct 2023.

"Up to you really, since most of us are not that great with sutblty and as it gets darker my ability to assit will become less and less.

" "I don't see in the dark either, and my tactics are too straitforward to be used in this capacity. But I can turn a blind eye to your action, as long as only cultists are hurt."

"Of course it is! What a dolt I am!" Korym winks at the little bat. "There's more. Shadow said there is a song that she heard in the forest. It asked her to watch the men in the forest.

Sounds to me that there is something of intelligence out there, be it spirit of flesh."

Then Korym turns back to his familiar, "Do you want to go help the song in the forest? You have my permission, but be careful. Come back if you see any kind of battle."


"I don't think carrying lights will be a problem, Einar. Most of these would-be stag hunters are carrying torches or lamps."

---

Since familiars are actually spirits, a fey spirit in Shadow's case, she might feel some connection to the singer of the song. And Korym can always recall her if necessary.

Hope, dagger in hand, looked at Korym, arguing with his bat. A slight smile crept across her face, but she said nothing. She looked at the others and shrugged. "If you come with a torch, that will be fine, you can maybe have some form of hooded light to limit the light, but i'll be ahead scouting anyway."

She looked at Korym."if we can tell this 'thing' we are here to help, maybe - just maybe we can kill two birds with one stone. Protect this stag, and take out a few guards without the blame being pointed on us"

The paladin pursed her lips, debating with herself "It is not very honorable... But the victims of Greenest call for vengeance and that is what I am here for. Very well, I will accompany you, if you say we can cull some of the cultists. Maybe that will force the leaders to push north and we can abandon this deception at being guards."

A smile slowly spreads on Korym's face. "Superb idea, Hope." The wizard looks to the bat, and says, "Shadow, I want you to seek out whoever is singing the song in the forest. Tell them that most of the men in the forest are seeking the stag, at the request of a Dragon cultist.

We will be in the forest trying to cull the number of cultists. And we will do our best to protect the stag anyway we can."

Korym sends the bat off, and looks to others, "Einar, if you have some torches, than I think we are ready!"

The group finally makes it to the forest around three in the morning, Shadow having flown off a while ago.

The feeling in the forest is in oppressive one, the trees loom close together and their trunks twist and contort making the light from the torches play off them casting eerie shadows.

Soon the group has made it's way to what was once a structure, monolithic stones weighing tons stacked on top of each other, once forming a wall or a foundation, but now little more than a ruin; moss covered, eroded, and largely covered over by soil.

A large  twenty foot toppled statue lays off to the side, also covered in moss and soil; trees growing up through the shattered broken chunks, any features that would indicate who this figure was are long gone save for a strange symbol emblazoned on the chest. No other features seem to remain no head, arms, legs, or anything else just a cracked in half female humanoid torso.


Wolf cries can be heard now in the forest at some distance, the odd shout of one of the hunters.

Korym offers to carry a torch, knowing that his companions will need their hands if trouble arises. Reaching the ancient ruin, his academic curiosity is piqued as he looks over the old construction. When the broken statue is discovered he drops the torch a look of shock on his face.

"It can't be! After all these years! Amina, I found it!"

Korym lifts the chain hanging around his neck, allowing the amulet on it to hang free. He then realises he is not carrying the torch anymore. He picks it up, and shines the light onto the broken statue with his amulet dangling next to it.

It is obvious to anyone looking that the iron amulet matches the carved amulet on the statue.

Hope narrows her eyes at the elf with a frown. "What in the nine hells are you talking about Kor?"

Saphira had never been too diligent in her religious study and she racked her brain to find if she had seen that symbol before before giving up "Don't leave us hanging, what is the significance of this?"

Today: Saphira Prideflare rolled 9 using 1d20-1 with rolls of 10.  religion.

"This symbol, it was left to me by my mentor in Silverymoon, after she died.

We were never able to find anything about it. Does it represent a deity? A cult? A mundane organisation? Or something else? It was a puzzle that Amina could not solve for over fifteen years.

And now, here it is! On this broken statue in the middle of this forest."

Korym slowly stood up still looking at the broken statue, in disbelief.

"It's unbelievable!" Then, looking around, he blushes slightly. "And, of course, it may not be relevant to our current situation. This statue is not going anywhere, and now that I know where it is I will be able to come and study it, and perhaps this area in far more detail. Later."

Korym slowly pushes the iron symbol back under his tunic. And rubs his finger on the much newer Harper pin on the inside of his cloak. "We still have a cult to deal with. And perhaps a golden stag to save."

"I'll just take a quick look around here, for other signs of this symbol, and of course, stag prints."

---

If no one objects, Korym will quickly look for the symbol on any other statues or on the ruins. 10 to 15 minutes.

Hope frowned as the elf explained (in apparent excitement) the symbol and sighed. "Nothing is ever easy" she muttered.

Waving her hand, she nodded. "You've got 10 minutes, then we leave for the forest."

"Make it quick we don't really have a lot of time here before things could go wrong."

Searching about the ruins fails to turn up another symbol like the one on the statue, or anymore of the ruin, so much of it now buried and likely forming many of the hills and mounds in surrounding forest.

Moments into the search however the leaves of the surrounding trees begin to rustle, as storm clouds make their presence known, having seemingly come from nowhere, lighting brightening the sky and thunder booming occasionally.

It is in one of these lightening flashes that the group now notice on the periphery of the ruins wolves have silently gathered encircling the area, their focus trained on the group.

Stepping out of the shadows and into the torchlight a nude woman saunters unashamedly into view, an otherworldly fey like air about her. Her hair seems to be made of vegetation and has leaves either sprouting from it or woven into it. As she walks forward toward Korym, the wolves close in as well, in time with her approach, tightening the circle around the group.

She stops only feet away from Korym, holding her arm out; the small bat Shadow crawls across her arm and jumps into a glide returning to her master's shoulder.

"This spirit speaks kind words of you." She says as one of the wolves moves to her side.

Korym smiles, "Shadow is a good friend." Looking the fey-woman in the eye, doing his best to ignore the wolf standing so close, he adds, "I am Korym Nightstar, from Silverymoon. These are my trusted companions, Einer of Greenest, Hope from Stormwood, and Saphira Prideflare."

Korym gives a small bow to the lady. "I imagine you might be responsible for the song that Shadow heard?"

Saphira tensed when the wolves made themselves seen, and she relaxed her grip on her blade-staff, preparing for a fight. When the naked woman walked in, she breathed thanks to Tyr, as she would not have like to kill any animals, except in self defense. Korym presented her and she bowed to the woman, always keeping her eyes on the fey, a sign of respect and wariness.

Hope sensed the presence of enemies first and was on edge, daggers in hand and crouching as the wolves came into view. "Nice doggies." she muttered.

Then the strange nude woman sauntered in and she narrowed her eyes. Still defensively standing, she waited until she stopped and spoke to Korym. The half elf relaxed a little, but still had daggers in her hands. "Uummm, no offence lady, but can you ask your friends to not look at us like chew toys - it's unnerving."
This message was last edited by the player at 11:10, Mon 13 Nov 2023.

Einar stands near another tree leaning against it as he watches the naked woman and the wolves closely without a word.

The woman flinches slightly at another boom of thunder, her eyes drifting to the sky before recomposing herself and once more focusing her attention on the group.

"I am one of many singers, that is all you need to know. As for the wolves, I am not their master, they look at you that way because you are intruders; leave peacefully and you will not need to see their stares any longer.

I have come to tell you to leave, only because the spirit called shadow has spoken so highly of you. Otherwise you would not have had such an easy time entering or moving through our home."

Hope looked at teh woman with crossed arms. "Gratitude for you. We come to help, even warn you against whats coming and you send us away."

Saphira narrowed her eyes at the warning. "And what will happen to those who don't heed your warning? Some of those fools in the woods are innocents, if misguided, and don't deserve to die, not for following an empty promise of gold, bloody gold too, taken from the victims of the dragon cult. I have no qualm about killing the cultists, but the other guards deserve a chance, like you are offering us.

The woman looks to Saphira her expression still stern. "Those who have entered the forest with the intent to harm the Stag have taken their lives into their own hands. We have no issues with any of the people entering the forest, but those who are too stubborn to be led astray by us and continue on past our illusions and threats, have clearly made their choice and we will do what we must to protect that which is precious to us." She says looking up at another crack of thunder and a nearby flash of lighting. "I have never seen mother so angry..." She says her voice shaken as if even she is scared by the current weather.

"Can you, or your...mother...strike fear into the hearts of the villagers? Enough to send them back to the village, without causing them harm.?

Or could you give us some time to find the villagers and warn them clearly to leave the woods?"

Hope looked at the woman with a frown. She was never one for the magical arts, but even the hardier thief found her unsettling.

Einar frowns but he's not one to start the fight when someone is so nice to warn them that shit is going down. For now he waits seeing what his companions are making of this whole situation.

"We have been trying to drive them away without harm. But some are stubborn and press on." She says watching the sky. "If mother is this mad it means something has happened. If you value your lives you will leave this forest this night... Nothing good is going to come now." She says with a tinge of fear in her voice.

Korym looks pensively at the others. "I think we should take this advice, and leave the forest. And tell any others we meet to leave as well."

Hope looked at Korym and sighed, shrugging. "Ok....but you know how hard it is when i'm told i can't go somewhere?" She sheathed her daggers and crossed her arms. "if we can't have fun in the forest, then maybe the camp?"

Saphira knew she was outmatched and her morals conflicted with this situation. She had to remind herself of her oath to get her feet moving to get out of the forest. "My oath is to exterminate the greater evil, when faced with that choice. It does pain me, but I cannot lose sight of the biggest threat, the cult must pay for their actions in Greenest. Those fools in the forest will have to pay the price for their folly on their own. Very well, Hope, I trust you will be able to hurt the cultist from the shadows."

<ooc> I had to go back and read the Vengeance Paladin tenets again... quite the moral conundrum for a LG paladin! I should have made her LN.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:34, Fri 22 Dec 2023.

As the party turns to leave another crack of thunder can be heard followed by blinding light and a deafening boom. Searing burning pain is the only sensation that any of the group can feel at first, then the realization that they can neither hear nor see. It takes what feels like an eternity for the senses to return to the group revealing everyone had been blasted several feet from where they were and been knocked prone and severely burned by a bolt of lightning that had struck the Fey woman leaving a charred and burnt corpse on the ground several feet from where she had been standing.

O.O.C. I rolled everyone's DEX saving throws and well you all failed, everyone takes 15 points of dmg. And were blind and deaf for a time, but no longer.

Korym lies on the ground for what seems an eternity unable to see of hear. As his senses return, he realises the level of pain he is experiencing. He slowly pushes himself up and then turns in a slow circle to look for his companions.
"A-a-are you all right?" he asks, his voice shaking. Spotting the charred remains of the woman that had spoken to them, his already pale face blanches further. "Gods! Was that bolt aimed at us? Or was she not supposed to be giving us a warning? Or..."
The wizard stumbles as he takes some steps, "I think we need to leave!"

---

Did Shadow get blasted too?

Hope felt a tinge of ozone and watched just a second before the flash And detonation. She lie down, her senses reeling and eyes blinded. She blinked and started to see again. She rolled, and saw the charred corpse of the fey woman. The half elf cursed as she got to her knee and had her hand crossbow in hand.

She heard Korym speak and shook her head. “Whether it was aimed at us or her doesn’t matter. It has taken out an envoy of the nature that has warned us. Maybe it was the cultists, or someone else but whatever…..we survived and she didn’t, so i suggest you get the hell up and get to cover.”

She looked at the corpse. “…then we can find out who did this, and kill them.”

Einar stands singed and burned eventualyl shaking his head a bit as it all comes back, seeing everyone panic and after what they've been told he curses holding his shield up as he glances around at the group. "I'd say it's time to get outta this damn forest and back to the camp at least before this mother of her's gets any more pissed off at us. One lighting strike is enough thank you."

He finds a tree to duck behind in sight of everyone as he takes a few deep breaths to sort himself out, finding everything intact he nods to himself. "Let's get a move on, even if that wasn't the mother and was a cultist attack I'm in no condition to recive another and seems most of you are worse off than me."

Korym nods. He stumbles out of the open into the trees. And looks to follow Einar, hoping the big man knows the way back to the village. The wizard reaches out telepathically to tell Shadow to watch from above...but the familiar connection is gone. "Damn!"

Hope groaned, her armor still smouldering from the attack. “Let’s get back and lick our wounds, then we can see what in the nine hells caused that.” despite her bravado, she moved stiffly with some pain.

The paladin's heavy metallic armor was not designed to protect her against lightning and even with her battle hardened reflexes, she crumbled like all the rest of her group when her flight back was stopped in a loud crash by a small tree. Dazed for a moment, she had to look for her weapon in the blackened field, as she murmured a small prayer for the soul of the Fey that payed the ultimate prize to warn them. Not wanting that sacrifice to go to waste, she nodded her ascent to the group's proposal to flee the forest. Even her devotion to Tyr was no match to face such wrath!

Turning back into the woods in the direction they had come it becomes quickly evident that the group is turned around or that the route they had taken has... changed.

Traversing a wood at night and keeping one's bearings is difficult enough, but nothing looks even remotely the same, perhaps the illusions the woman had spoken of had driven you to this place or perhaps the forest is actually shifting, a theory that might not be as absurd as one might think given what happens next.

There is another clap of thunder, and the winds begin to pick up and howl through the trees, soon a familiar sound can be heard above; the roar of a mighty reptilian being... A dragon and a big one, followed by screams, thousands of them, and the sounds of shattering masonry and crumpling buildings can be heard from all around. The trees begin to shimmer and fade being replaced by masonry and worked stone, before shimmering back, an illusion perhaps?

O.O.C. I will need a WIZ Nature Check with Disadvantage from whomever is trying to make their way back along the forest. And I will also need an INT Arcana Check from anyone wishing to know what is going on.

"What in the nine hells is going on?" Korym turns circles on the spot, looking for any kind of familiar landmark. The momentary shimmering of the forest and the sound of the dragon, bring back horrible memories from Greenest. "Alathrien! Protect us!"

---

Korym Nightstar rolled 3 using 2d20+1, dropping the highest dice only with rolls of 2,10 for Nature (WIS) - DIS.
Korym Nightstar rolled 23 for Arcana (INT).

Hope looked around as she began to make for the camp, only to realise everything was different. The woman swore in elven as she had her hand crossbow in hand.

She looked at Korym and snorted. "Yeah....like he's helped us so far!" she muttered as she tried to get her Bearings.

She had no clue what was happening but was ready to get out.

---

<OOC: Hope rolled 8 using 1d20+1.  Nature check (Disadvantage)

Hope rolled 16 using 1d20+1.  Nature check.

Hope rolled 4 using 1d20+1.  Arcana check.>

Saphira was a fighter, not an intellectual person, nor was she a woodswoman, and her confusion was evident as she faced the events unfolding before them. Bringing her blade staff in a ready position, she tried to scan the area for threats she could do something about to protect the group. "Whatever is happening, lets stick together, Tyr will guide us to victory!"

Nature (disadvantage) 6
Arcana 10
Perception 15

Today: Saphira Prideflare rolled 15 using 1d20+2 with rolls of 13.  perception. – 15

08:35, Today: Saphira Prideflare rolled 6,8,10 using 1d20-1,1d20-1,1d20-1 with rolls of 7,9,11.  nature (disadvantage), arcana.

"FUCK!" Einar just curses as he attempts to make his way through the forest and keep with the group, why in the fuck did he join them he knew it was a bad idea. He's got nothing going for him all his skills are worthless when the world shifts around him every few seconds it's dreadful.

Einar rolled 4 using 2d20, keeping the lowest dice only.  Nature is wis I rolled wrong the first time.

10:32, Today: Einar rolled 14 using 2d20+2, keeping the lowest dice only.  Trying survial at dis

The forest shimmers out of existence more and more every moment a vision of another place replacing it, an illusion perhaps; but the sights and sounds are all too familiar.

High above in the now daytime sky dozens of chromatic dragons circle belching fire, and their own breath weapons, down on a screaming and paniced citizenry of a sprawling High Elven city with soaring spires. The dragons flight is clumsy and erratic, almost manic, they are not acting as a cohesive group but mearly maurading about.

Many of the buildings are now burned or crumbing down, but at the center of the city is a massive domed structure with the tallest of the spires jutting from it's center stretching into the sky. The building must be a palace, government building, or holy building of some sort due to it's massive size in comparison to the rest of the buildings in the city.

Floating above the city and above the central tower is a massive object obscured by the radiant red light it is emitting. It pulses almost rhythmic growing in intensity as it does.

All around high elves scramble about to escape the onslaught from the dragons in the sky some who look to be city guard or military of some kind are motioning the populace out of the danger zones while others fire bows or magic spells at the soaring reptiles.

If this is an illusion it is a good one you can smell the burning of the city... a now familiar smell.

Korym pales, his eye open wide, his mouth agape. "It cannot be..." his voice comes out as a whisper.
He reaches out to grab Einar, possibly for support. His other hand reaches for the iron symbol hanging around his neck...the same symbol on the armour of the elven guards.
"What we are seeing happened long ago...the weave, the weave of magic is tearing...the past and the present...they are mixing together in this forest...and we are joining the past!"

Einar barely understands what's going on after Korym explains it or at least what he thinks is going on and he shakes his head a bit reaching over to give the man a shake. "Past, Present, or Future that shit doesn't matter right now. We need to keep moving and focus on surviving or it won't matter if this is the past or not!"

Saphira whirled her weapon in a defensive posture, as her dark eyes were scanning the scene in front of her "What do you see? Is it the same as me? Dragons covering the sky, attacking a big city, I am not in the forest anymore! Guard are running around, wearing the symbol Korym found! If we are transported elsewhere, or elsewhen, stick together, we don't want to be separated!" She glanced towards the sky, seeing dragons, and gritted her teeth, before looking around, trying to find a way out.

Korym keeps his grip on Einar, and reaches for Saphira with his other hand; both hands quiver. "Grab Hope," he calls to the paladin, "You are seeing what I see, Saphira. Somehow we are witnessing the past.

Einar, choose a direction and start moving. Gods know if we can escape this!"
This message was last edited by the player at 05:55, Sat 27 Jan.

Even as Elnar spoke, he felt her grasp his shoulder. "Don't worry about me....i'm here." She had one of her daggers away now with teh otehr in her hand as she looked around, a sense of worry on her face. "....and past, present or future, this is a place we should not be. So my advice is we move our asses, NOW!"

Einar nods with everyone together he set to picking a path forward trying to find some semblance of a peaceful pocket amongst the chaos of the town. Thankfully or unfortunately he had some experience with this kind thing so he did his best to keep them outta the line of fire of either side, just moving forward till he finds them a place to hunker down for a moment in some sort of relative safety.

Looking about for cover, any kind of cover, Einar leads the group in between the massive elegant buildings, through alley ways and side streets. the roars of massive dragons echoing across the city punctuating the urgency with which the group is moving. Soon the group happens upon an open root cellar or basement entrance; wasting no time the group is able to make it's way down and close the doors.

The inside of the basement is likely for a restaurant as the room is crowded with shelves of pots and pans and casks of dried foods, wines, and cheeses. as well as exotic herbs hanging from the roof bringing a spicey aroma to the room.

Korym gasps for breath, he puts his back to a wall and slides to a sitting position. He pulls a candle from his pack and with snap of his fingers and a minor word, "Cinis" the candle ignites.

"We are in the past. Somehow. He taps the barrel next to him. This is real, not an illusion. As best I can tell. I need to rest. That lightning caused me no little distress."

---

Korym needs a short rest!

Saphira was the last one in the cellar and closed the door, not before scanning the area for any immediate threats. After closing the doors, she looked for the locking bar and installed it. "This will not stop a determined dragon, but at least we are out of sight. Yes we can rest, but we need to figure out how we'll go back to our time." She explored the cellar, looking for the other exits and determined how she could block them from their side, doing so, before resting herself.

Today: Saphira Prideflare rolled 11 using 1d10+2 with rolls of 9. Using a HD, regaining 11 HP, bringing her to 36 HP.

Hope looked at Korym with a frown. "Past!" she muttered, then cursed promptly in elvish. "...how in the hells did that happen?"

She looked around and sighed. "past or not, we gotta find a place we can defend to rest."

"That I don't know, Hope. I thought it was some sort of wild magic eruption, but it was much more powerful, something I have never seen, something I have never even heard of.

It's like the Weave it self was breaking down around us. I could feel the magic, taste it even, all around us.

And seeing those elves wearing this," he holds up the iron symbol, "makes me think we have somehow moved from our present into the past.

I can't make sense of it. But, for now, I think those elves are real; as are those dragons!" The elf shudders as he finishes speaking.

---

If a short rest is completed:
 Korym Nightstar rolled 7 using 1d6+1.  1 Hit Dice
 Korym Nightstar rolled 2 using 1d6+1.  1 Hit Dice.
 Korym Nightstar rolled 6 using 1d6+1.  1 Hit Dice.

Hope was unsure of the answer, but still held her dagger with a disappointed look on her face. "I wanted to go back and remove my bad deeds in the past, but this is not what i had i mind." she groaned. She looked at Korym and spat on the ground. "Lets find a place to hole up. We can rest and then find out where....when we are."

Einar shakes his head and then moves something to block the cellar door for now at least before speaking in a hushed tone. "For now this is gonna be the best bet to hole up for any amount of time from what I could tell running through the city. Everyone should find a spot and get comfy for a bit. Also grab any food or water that we might be able to use." He looks around the dimly lit cellar and goes to find a spot to settle in for a bit.

Forty minutes into the rest the building above suffers some sort of calamity that shakes the cellar violently, dust and debris fall from the ceiling as shelves and racks topple over dispersing their contents all about. A loud deep bass sound can be heard from outside, which permiates almost magically into the cores of all who hear it; as if they are being touched by a magic spell of some sort. The sound is that of perhaps an immense horn. But the sound repeats moments later and continues sounding rhythmically every few minutes.

Other sounds outside have grown louder as well, the occasional draconic roar has been replaced with what must now be hundreds of dragons roaring constantly. The ground trembles almost continuously with their wrath, this city will likely be nothing but rubble before much longer.

But perhaps the most terrible noises that can be heard in the rubble above and outside now are the sounds of smaller creatures shouting indistinct things in Draconic, while the shouts of elves has quieted to nonexistent, it would seem your position is being overrun, but at least for now you have not been found out.

O.O.C.
If you all opt to get the benefits of a short rest you will need to spend twenty more minutes resting, as a short rest is 1 hour, food for thought.

Korym's eyes shift nervously over the ceiling above, and the door to the cellar. "It sounds as if the dragons have overcome the elves. Let's hope we remain undiscovered, until we have recuperated somewhat. And then..."

---

I think we have all agreed to stay for the short rest, if possible.

Hope stayed close to teh rest, daggers in hand as she cleaned herself up of the wounds. She looked up as the building shook with a frown. "Lets focus on getting healed a bit - then we can address the 'and then' part of the plan."

The sounds from outside have gotten more chaotic, sounding like an army is now marching through the streets with dragons overhead. The pulsing of the horn is increasing, as well as the intensity, with every bellow you can feel a growing tightness or perhaps a pressure in your core, and it isn't a pleasant feeling either.

It isn't long before the barred door that once led inside the building begins to shudder as if something on the other side is trying to force it open.

---
o.o.c. the party has waited the 20 additional minutes and been granted the effects of the short rest.

Korym takes a deep breath as the banging on the door intensifies. He stands, slipping his pack onto his back, "Magiisto Kiraso", the air around seems to crystalise for a moment, and then returns to normal. He glances around, "Do we stay and fight or leave the way we came and chance the bedlam outside?"

---

Action:  Cast Mage Armour.
[Edit: as the location of the other door was likely obvious!!
This message was last edited by the player at 05:05, Fri 16 Feb.

Einar takes up his shield and readies himself glancing around to see if there is any other way out feeling rested and refreshed after their break. He shakes his head a bit at Korym's question still glancing around but he always brings his focus back to the door that's being banked on.



17:58, Today: Einar rolled 10 using 1d12+5.  Another just to nock it out

17:58, Today: Einar rolled 10 using 1d12+5.  Hit dice for long rest .

The woman got up and placed herself near and to the side of the inside door, ready to strike if the door was breached. "Its probably looters, Hope, go check if we can slip out the other way"

After two further hard slams the door to the basement finally bursts open. Two human men, who's dress is far more contemporary with your own and could in fact be some of the hunters, barge in, one of them carrying a nude elven woman, who looks related to the one you met, her arm over his shoulders as he supports her weight. The other man quickly slams the door shut again and turns to follow his friend who has stopped and then follows his gaze as he becomes aware of the group standing at the ready to kill them.

"Fuck..." The man says as he raises a crossbow and making his way to stand in front of the other man who is holding the woman. "Does anyone here speak common?"

Korym gestures for the man to lower his crossbow. "Yes! We all do. Who are you? Are you from Soubar? Or the caravans? What's going on out there?"

Einar weapon and shield still at the ready as he looks at the men holding a nude woman with a frown. "I'll say coming here with a knocked out naked woman doesn't look good for you." His frown is clear on his face and his words while not telling them to put her down are plenty clear on his intent.

Hope narrowed her eyes, daggers in hands as she looked at teh naked elven woman. It was clear she was barely holding in the urge to jump on these fools and tear them apart.

She grasped teh daggers. "I suggest you speak now or your in for a very bad day." it was clear that her threat was less veiled than Einar's and that she would jump in an instant

The no-nonsense paladin frowned when she saw the men with the unconscious naked woman. Her allies had said enough so she stayed silent and simply used her glare has she moved to the man holding the woman, clearly intending to take her from him.

Today: Saphira Prideflare rolled 22 using 1d20+5 with rolls of 17.  intimidation.

Sorry, almost forgot about this needed reply

The man with the crossbow clearly intimidated by the paladin marching toward him levels it at her. "Not another step lady! I don't want to shoot you but I will if you make me... I don't know who you lot are, but I bet we are on the same side, If'n your from Soubar. And looks aside we didn't do notin' to this girl. One minute we are hunting in the forest, the next this lady shows up and surrounds us with beasts, tells us to leave, then the whole forest goes nuts and we are standing in the middle of a warzone filled with dragons and other nasties, she collapses, and then we start getting chased, so unless you wanna end up as a casualty of this war I suggest we get friendly quick and start working together, cuz this ain't my war, is it yours?"

"Gods alive!" Korym said with exasperation. "Let's all not kill each other! Saphira wants to see if she can help the elf. I'm Korym Nightstar of Silverymoon. We are all," he gestures to the party, "guards working for Jack Bermon. We were overnighting in Soubar.

Who might you be?"
This message was last edited by the player at 03:38, Wed 13 Mar.

Hope slapped the blade of one of the daggers against her leg, smiling. "You want some goodwill, put the girl down so my friend can check her. Otherwise stop flapping your lips."

Saphira held her gaze on the man with the weapon, like daring him to shoot, before lifting her arms towards the naked elf. "This is your last chance, give her to me, or suffer the consequences. Tyr be my witness, I won't say it again."