Hope smiled at Oraphina as she spoke. “You know me sister…..I’d rather stick to the sneaky stuff. The stabby stuff I only do unless I can’t avoid it.” What she said was true….the half elf was taught as a thief, and though she would not shy away from battle, she preferred sneaking in and out without people noticing than full frontal attack.

“You know how I love sneaking!”

Upon being asked about his former master he shakes his head. "No, thankfully he passed on three months ago, old age I'm afraid."

Once Korym proposes his counter offer, Wilcot nods. "I find these terms acceptable, now lets get started so as not to waste any of your time." he says as he retrieves the brazier from the cabinet.

--------


After a good long rest from the events of the prior night and scavenging what supplies they could from the town, the group sets off from the keep.

Governor Nighthill had members of the guard scout the town and surrounding area, while the group rested, to confirm the captured raiders' intel, that the raiders were from the south east. The scouts were able to confirm that tracks indicate that the bulk of the raiding force did indeed retreat in that direction.

Moments after the group sets forth from the keep on their way to the south east edge of town they can hear someone shouting to them from behind.

A young man hobbles up to the group, limping heavily on his bandaged left leg. "I hear that you intend to follow the raiders and see where they've gone. I'd like nothing better than to come with you, but in this condition, I'd only slow you down.

My name is Nesim, and in the midst of all this tragedy, there's no reason you would have heard about the fate of my master, Leosin Erianthar, but it's important you know. He is a monk from Berdusk. He disappeared last night, after we fought a particularly savage battle against the raiders. A few others and I fought our way to the keep, barely. Leosin didn't make it at all. We went back this morning to look for him, but all we found was his broken staff and this choker, which he always wore." He says presenting a broken walking staff and torn leather braid with a silver pendant in the shape of a dragon upon it.

"Leosin has been investigating these raiders for months. I fear that he might have tried to infiltrate their group when they retreated, or worse, was captured and carried away as a prisoner. No one understands these bandits better than he does, and his knowledge will be invaluable against them.

When you find their camp, please look for any sign that Leosin is there. One of my brothers has already departed for Berdusk to bring back help, but it will be many days before any help arrives. Anything you can do before then would be a godsend." He says as he uses a piece of the broken staff to hold his weight on.
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:25, Thu 15 July 2021.

Grune nodded solemnly and asked the kid to verify more details about the person that the group would seek. Height, weight, any other identifying characteristics before they left.

"You are a brave lad"  Grune said as his heavy hand rested on Nesim's shoulder.

"We will do this for you."

Einar looks and feels about a thousnd times better now that he's been able to rest and get a decent meal in him. As they walk along he is smiling happliy and just glad they made it through the seige mostly intact. His hand drifts down to his new weapon it was a more dextrous weapon which suited his body better but didnt work well when he was angry.

His eyes drift to Oraphina every little bit hhe didn't know why and just kept it to himself as they eventually had the young man limped up to them. He nodded at the mans words "We will do what we can to help bt make no promises for sure." He offers a smile and gives him a light clap on the shoulder.

"Oh, your poor leg," pouted Orafina after Nesim had completed his story.  "Once we get back from this, if I've got anything left in the tank I'll be happy to sprinkle a bit of magic on it and make it less..."  She looked at the bandages, and winced a little as she waggled a finger at it.  "... wrong-directiony.  Knees shouldn't bend like that."

Turning to the rest of the group, the pout was replaced by her usual cheery demeanor.  "We ready for a walk in the woods, everyone?"

Hope, one of the ones in front of the group, heard the man, and sighed and rolled her eyes. She listened to the interruption stoically and with the others accepting to help, she began to say something, then stopped. Hope was used to being alone, and her instincts led her to self preservation - she rarely helped others unless something was in it for her. Sighing, she spoke. “Well, maybe he has some information that will stop us dying horribly.”

She looked at Oraphina with raised eyebrows. “Wrong directiony…really?” She had a smile in her face. “C’mon boys….let’s go kick a Dragonborn butt - unless you want to stop and help a farmer sow a field?” She shrugged, looking around. “No?  Ok…let’s go.”

Korym listens to Nesim's story carefully..."Of course we will look out for Leosin."

The elf ponders for a moment, then he asks the young man, "Nesim, would you let me take your master's choker with us? If we do find him, it might prove to him that we are not part of the Cult."


Korym lets out a small sigh, "The creature whose butt you are intent on kicking is not a Dragonborn, rather it is a Half-Dragon. Literally from the union of a dragon and a person. Much more powerful than a Dragonborn."

Hope looked at him and shrugged. "Fine...lets go kick a half-dragon's butt then."

She looked forward "Stupid lizards still gonna get what's coming to him."

"Now you see here, young lady," huffed Orafina, spinning to face Hope.  "His leg is bent in the wrong direction.  Therefore, I am describing it as 'wrong-directiony'.  I may not be a book-learned scholar, but I know when something is not facing the right direction."  She points indignantly at the man's leg.  "And THAT fits the bill, does it not?"  The halfling finished her diatribe by blowing an indignant-yet-endearing raspberry noise in Hope's direction and turned back to the rest of the group.

"Now, back to business.  People to rescue, butts to kick, and being super sneaky to avoid getting our own butts kicked.  Let's do this!"

Hope looked at Oraphina with a raised eyebrow, trying hard to keep a straight face. When she finished, the half elf smiled. “Oh, my dear feisty halfling sister I agree that that isn’t how a leg should look. And I’m not mocking your skills - just your phrasing.” She seemed hardly phased by the halfling tirade, In fact it amused her more, and chuckled at the raspberry behind her back.

She heard the last part and chuckled. “You, fina, are about as stealthy as a giant in a glass shop.”

"Describe him... Well uh, he is my height, lean and muscled.... He has short black hair, and a thin mustache, OH! and he is a half-elf" He says awkwardly, as it becomes clear he had never thought about how to describe him to someone else before.

He then hands the choker to Korym. "Yes if you think it will help, then by all means. And thank you all." He says clasping his hands together and offering a slight bow to the group.

----

As the group makes it's way through the town, the bright blue sky and the light of day offer a stark and surreal contrast to the death and devastation all around.

Corpses lie where they fell all over the town, the odd citizen of the town can be seen weeping over one of them, or picking through the remains of a building here and there, but for the most part it is silent. Not even the birds make any noise.

Then the group approaches a large black scar running for a great distance toward the keep, every building caught in it is nothing more than a smoldering foundation now, with maybe one charred beam or a chimney still standing; the aftermath of one of the dragon's strafing runs over the town with his fiery breath. And there in the middle of the blackened road, in front of the group, the huddled remains of a family; A man, woman, and child. The parents huddling over the child to protect it from the blast... they were not successful, their corpses now nothing more than bone and charcoal.

----

Once past the ruins of the town, the group heads south east, through the pillaged farm lands until they reach rolling hills, dotted with boulders, in the distance the peaks of the mountains separating the Sword Coast from Amn are just visible on the horizon.

It isn't long before the group finds the obvious trail left by the raiders, a massive swath of grassland is trampled flat headed off into the distance, there are more tracks than one can count, and it proves there were in fact a lot of them. (everyone is welcome to make a DC 18 Wisdom Perception Check if they wish.)

----

6:00pm

Following the trail is not difficult. After several hours of following the trampled grass the group can see a thin column of smoke rising into the air in the distance, just ahead of the group. Continuing straight on their course will have them intercept the cause of the smoke in no time.

"We will do our best, Nesim." Korym says as he tucks the broken choker into his pouch.


"By the gods! This is horrific..." the elf's voice trails off as he takes in the level of devastation and the loss of life.

---

[Edit: broke up this post to respond to Hope, in order.]
This message was last edited by the player at 04:28, Thu 22 July 2021.

Hope walks the road with a stoic look as they passed the death and destruction of the town. She knew it could have easily been any of them, and she was glad it wasn’t, but also she felt sorrow. With the sight of the scar and family, she stopped, looking at them and bowed her head, whispering. She looked again at the child and took a breath, and kept walking.

On Korym’s words, the usually upbeat half elf answered, but her tone had no humour or lightnesss, only a cold, hard focus. “This had nothing to do with the gods….monsters caused this, plain and simple. The dragon and its followers.” It was clear that despite her usual tough exterior, the sight effected her. “You still keen to let that half dragon bastard walk free seeing this? I dunno about you, but I don’t want another town to bury its children.”

"This... is... awful."

Orafina walks with the group through the destruction, sometimes covering her nose and mouth with part of her cloak to ward off any smells.  If bodies are present she says a quick prayer over them, beseeching the gods to bring them to a better place than they left, but after a while even the usually cheery halfling is starting to seem worn down by the unending scenes of death and wreckage.

"They need to be stopped, no matter what," she says, staying closer to Hope as they continue on.  "And we're going to help do it."

---

04:04, Today: Oraphina Weatherbee rolled 5 using 1d20+2.  Perception DC18.

Korym looks at Hope incredulously. "When did I ever profess to a desire to see that dishonourable abomination walk free?

I don't know if you are a chronic liar or you simply take pleasure in being obnoxious. Neither is a pleasant trait, Hope."

Korym walks in silence, pondering what he has seen. It's not until the group stops at the start of the trail carved into the grassland that he comes out of his introspection just as a small bat climbs out from his cloak and onto his shoulder.

A small smile crosses the elf's face at the sight of the little creature. [Sylvan: "Why don't you see if you can find some insects to eat, Shadow?"]

The bat takes flight swooping through the air over and around the group.

---

Korym Nightstar rolled 7 for Perception. Too busy watching the bat!

I actually looked through my posts to see if Korym had said something, but I didn't see anything. I'm assuming Hope is just taking the mickey out of Korym; and getting a reaction!
This message was last edited by the player at 02:39, Fri 23 July 2021.

Hope froze in place, her hands clenched as she turned to face Korym. Her face was expressionless,  but her eyes burnt with anger. "You know nothing of what you speak. You know nothing of me elf, so don't presume anything."

Her hands were trembling as she held his gaze. "You think I'm making light of this...." she pointed to the burnt family, the burnt child. "....I can tell you none of you, NONE have seen me more serious. I will find this bastard and kill him, or die trying...that is no lie."

She steps up to him, still looking at him. "Anf if your as smart as you think you are, maybe you wouldn't go around calling me a liar, or you'll find out just how obnoxious I can be."

She turned and started walking


<OOC: just so you know, her anger isn't entirely aimed at you. she's very protective of children, and seeing the burnt family has effected her

Don't misunderstand, she doesn't like being called a liar and will stand up for herself, but even korym would realise her reaction isn't entirely aimed at him>.

Grune drifted behind the party but it was more than his short dwarven legs which caused the departure. The cleric forced himself to look into the faces of each of the dead, each of the fallen.

If he could not see them off to the halls of their forefathers he damned sure wasn't going to ignore them. He took a moment to stand before the remains of the family as a light breeze began to tug at the integrity of the ash; a morbid metaphor on the fragility of life.


Grune Darkhammer rolled 9 using 1d20+3.  Wisdom based Perception Check

Einar marched along head held high and eyes kept forward, he didn't want to see the death and destruction they were following. His rage had already been set to the highest level. "It is terrible but if we stop to deal with this all, more will fall in the same way. We must push forward and deal with the source then we can come back to help those that have been wronged."

Einar sighs and says a short prayer for the fallen as he walks the fire in his eyes never dimming he was going to break this cult. One way, or another.

Korym breaks his self-imposed silence when the column of smoke comes into view.

"I suspect that would be the raider caravan...or perhaps even their encampment. Walking straight-in, behind them, does not seem prudent.

If we are to provide the governor with his reconnaissance, we need to be able to observe them. How do we go about doing that?"

Hope, still angry, focuses her ire on the target at hand, her demeanor changing to cold and hard. She looks at the wizard. “Given their lack of fear of us, I doubt they’ll expect us, especially so soon. They think Einar dead, which is an advantage, but stealth is also an advantage. Unless you can silence an area, the best chance for information is me. I can sneak close, observe and come back with little sound.”

There was no boasting or pride in her voice, just factual information…she believed she was the best chance for stealth. “If anyone has some skill in stealth, they can come, but I suggest the more armoured people stay back….sorry sister, this means you.”

She looked at them all. “I suggest we approach slowly, the first sign of them, find a place we can defend. Those of us who can be silent or blend in, we take a look. No longer than 30 minutes without meeting back…those who don’t you can assume captured or worse.”

She looked at them. “Unless you can keep up and stay quiet, stay back and prepare.”

Fina looked back and forth between Hope and Koryn as they bickered, finally exhaling a breath of relief when Hope turned to matters of business.  "Look, you," she said to her friend.  "We're all stressed because we all just witnessed something horrible.  Don't go in there angry - anything like this to discuss, can be discussed when we're not chasing down a gang of butchers and maniacs.  Okay?  Let this ride for now, keep your wits, and go be that wonderful sneaky woman I know you are."  She tapped the chainmail covering her chest.  "Me and my loud-assed armor will stay here and wait for you to come back."

The halfling then surveyed her companions.  "Anyone else good at being quiet?" she asked, then looked at Korym.  "Might be best if you stay here with me," Fina added with a smile.  "Get some distance between you two."

"While that would be most welcome, I am not keen to send Hope ahead on her own.

I make no claim of being as silent as my wood elf kin...but I am unarmoured. And Shadow, here," he points to the bat on his shoulder, "Is able to...silently communicate with me from over 30 paces* distance and given a moment I am able to see and hear through her eyes and ears. That might prove useful.

But, all of you are far more experienced in this work, so I will follow your decision."

---

* IC description of 100 feet :-)
Korym can take an action to see/her through Shadow's eyes/ears, but he is blind/deaf through his own senses.

Grune doesn't seem to be phased by the conversation between Hope and Korym, dwarves being creatures of such strong enduring opinions this didn't seem to register as an argument. As the conversation turns to the business at hand Grune shrugs and offers, almost apologetically.

"By the Gods, I never placed any stock inta sneaking about."

"I've some skill in Stealth but if you prefer to go alone I understand." Einar shrugs a bit and waits for a decision to be made on it since it wasn't his primary skill, but he was decent with it.

Hope shook her head, serious. "You stay back....I need help and you will know." she hands her pack to Oraphina with a smile. "Don't worry mum...I'll be back soon, and I promisni won't bring any bad boys home with me."

The woman jogged off into the darkness.