Tyranny of Dragons: Hoard of the Dragon Queen: Chapter 2- Raiders' Camp
Year 1489 DR
6:00am

As the sun rises upon Greenest, what is left of the town becomes more visible, and the true extent of the carnage can be seen. Burnt down husks that were once buildings dot the landscape all around the keep, drifting slowly up from their smoldering ruins clouds of smoke choke the sky.

The buildings that are not burned down are heavily damaged from looting, the streets covered in belongings strewn from homes and businesses, mercifully near the keep most of the corpses belong to the raiders, few townsfolk can be seen among them.

The keep as well bares the scars of the previous night, the walls covered in arrows and bolts stuck into the crevices between the stones, and along one of it's ramparts and guard tower blackened stones and burnt timbers stand as testimony of the dragon's fiery attack.

Within the keep Commander Escobert organizes teams of the town's guard into patrols to go out and secure the town, while Governor Nighthill gives a speech trying to both calm and give hope to the citizens of Greenest.

The group find themselves in the main hall of the keep, a large hurriedly prepared breakfast feast is being tabled for everyone in the keep, all around the wounded being tended for their injuries.

Not long after the Governor's speech the group from the mill lead by Thoman comes through the main gate escorting the captured raiders into the keep, Commander Escobert and Governor Nighthill join Thoman as he escorts the prisoners to a small stone building with iron bars over a tiny window on the side, once inside the door is closed, and two of the men escorting the prisoners take position on either side of the door as guards.


Some time later Governor Nighthill makes his way to the group as they rest in the main hall. "Gentlemen and ladies, I hope I am not interrupting anything.

Einar, what you did for Sergeant Markguth and his family was beyond the call of duty. I cannot thank you enough; nor any of you for what you have done and what you have given for this town.

Anything we have is yours, anything we can do, just ask and it will be given.

That being said... You have all proven yourselves not only resourceful but capable. And I have a job for you all, the raiders you captured at the mill have been interrogated, and while I wish I could trust the Red Wizard, she simply doesn't know much, and the others are all tight lipped. She claims the raiders are a group of cultists known as the Cult of the Dragon; and that they had entered into a union with the Red Wizards to help summon the goddess Tiamat into this world... Which all sounds like a bit much, but could be apocalyptic if proven true.

I am willing to pay, what I can; I have taken a look at our reserves, and from what little there is, I can offer 250 gold pieces to each of you should you accept my... well, my quest.

I need a group to follow the raiders to where they came from, confirm or debunk the Red Wizard's claim. I need to know their location, their numbers, who their leaders are, perhaps who their next target will be. I do not ask you to engage them, simply reconnaissance.

Will you take up this task?" He asks looking about the group.

Korym's eye widen as the Governor describes what he has learned from Felosiel...Red Wizards...Cult of the Dragon...Tiamat! It seems like a story to scare younglings!

The elf stands, and gives a slight bow, saying, "Once again, I am at your service, Governor."

He starts to sit down again, and whispers, ever so quietly to Hope, [Elvish: "Too formal?"], but then catches himself, and faces Nighthill again.

"Governor, would there be a wizard here in the Keep? I don't wish to be presumptuous, but I would forego payment in coin if I can make use of some arcane supplies instead."

---

Korym needs 10 gp worth of charcoal, incense, and herbs and access to a brass brazier to cast Find Familiar; and 150 gp of ink and miscellaneous material to copy 3 spells from Felosiel's spellbook into his own.

No problem in negotiating with the wizard if one exists, but no point in explaining any of this to the Governor.

Hope had spent her time away from tbe group, helping with tbe scouting of tracks from the enemy. Even now, she had half as much sleep as tbe others, but needed little.

At the Governer's request, she raised an eyebrow, and when Korym spoke then whispered, she smiled and shrugged. Her smile faded as she looked at the group  "That dragonborn confirms some of it... he's a part of tbe cult of the dragon. His title places him pretty high up. each sect has a leader related to each chromatic color. he was third down from him."

She sighed as she picked dirt from a fingernail with a dagger. "Given that, I think the story may have merrit. What the hell this tiamat is exactly, I dunno, but sounds bad."

She looked at Oraphina with a shrug. "What say you, little sis....want to upset some dragon cult?"

Grune spent as much time as he was able to manage seeing to the needs of the towns people injured in the attack. He found the most promising of the healers and had them accompany him so that they could learn dwarven healing techniques which he thought were superior (but might not work in well when applied to humans who were less sturdy).

After gathered to their meeting and he heard the task placed before him Grune laughed a laugh which was like the cracking of thunder.

"Hahah! Reconnaissance indeed...hahah!" it only took him a moment before he realized that the request was genuine and clearing his throat he fell into a bashful silence.

During breakfast, Oraphina busied herself by helping to serve the meal - clearly, the way to a Halfling's heart is also through their stomach.  Handing out biscuits, refilling glasses of water, generally chatting with the people present... she's a three-foot tall whirlwind of jovial, food-bearing energy.

After the meeting and the revelation of their next task, Fina smiled at Hope, then at the governor.  "Like you could keep me away," she said confidently.  "The 'stay here and let things attack us' plan has gotten kind of stale anyways.  I'm in!"
This message was last edited by the player at 14:18, Thu 08 July 2021.

Einar has slept off the meat grinder that he'd been through spending nearly 12 hours sleeping only awaking when the Governor and everyone starts talking around him. "Huh.... What? Work, where? What do I need to do?"

Hope smiles at the halflings reaction, and flicks a dagger up and catches it. "You heard the lady...lets ruin a cults day!"

"Nap first." He says simply rolling back over as he's still in pain.

Governor Nighthill chuckles to himself as he realizes he had been talking to a sleeping man. "Thank you all again for all you are doing, I appreciate it more than you know. And again, any supplies you need, simply let the merchants know that it will be on my tab.

As for arcane supplies, well... I don't know too much about those, but I bet master Willcot would, I believe he is in his study, which is here in the keep, I can take you there myself if you like Mr. Nightstar.

In any event, go ahead get some rest, and when you are all ready to head out, let me know." He says, a smile beginning to cross his face for the first time since you had met him.

Grune nods once and goes off in search of medical supplies that he can use to replenish his Medicine Kit. He would also check out options for potions (and other healing magic) but of course wouldn't be surprised if that had acquired all of the available healing magics available to the smallish town.

The half elf smiles. "Is there an achemist in town, someone who deals in unusual stuff....even poisons?"

"I would be most honoured Governor."

As they walk, Korym will ask, "The village looks decimated, will you be able to rebuild Greenest? Will you receive aid from elsewhere? Have you determined why this Cult of the Dragon chose Greenest? Was there something here that attracted their attention...?"

The elf's voice trails off as a thought crosses his mind; although momentarily distracted, he will listen intently to any answers the governor provides.

"To be honest, Your Governorship, I think I'd be most interested in healing and protectives.  And definitely not poisons," she adds, scrunching up her face at Hope.

Her thoughts wander - to the frightened children, to the dragonborn hacking away at Einar, to the terrified hostage family - then snap back as she sighs, resignedly.  "Maybe a little poison then."

Governor Nighthill looks toward Hope. "There was an apothecary, though I have not seen him in the keep, and after last night... I don't know if he is alive or dead, or even if his store remains... And it wouldn't have been legal for him to sell poisons, simply medicines." Turning to Oraphina, he motions around the room. "The only healing items I am currently aware of are here in this room, I will speak with the healers for you and get back to you with what we can spare." He then turns to Korym and motions for him to follow.

During the trek through the keep he leads Korym to spiral stair case leading up through the floors of the keep's main tower. "We people of the Greenfields are no strangers to hardship Mr. Nightstar, though I do admit, this is going to be somewhat harder to overcome than we are used to. But we will manage, and no I doubt anyone will be sending us aid.

The only things I know, I know from the captured Red Wizard, and she claims their aims are to summon Tiamat into the world, I would imagine they are preparing for that, and we were simply the biggest target in the region... and with the coming fair we had a larger number of wealthy merchants, farmers, and people gathered than normal... I should have expected some kind of raid, not just drunkards... Anyway here we are Mr. Nightstar" He finishes motioning to a closed door on the fifth floor of the tower. "I will leave you here, I need to see to the medical supplies I can gather for your friends." He says bowing slightly and making his leave back down the stairs.

-------

Governor Nighthill returns to the rest of the group in the main hall maybe half an hour later, with a small basket full of supplies. "I was able to scrounge these medical supplies up for you, however I am afraid most of what we have we are going to need here" He says handing over the basket. (3 uses to add to the medicine kit.) "And, although I am loath to do this."  He says reaching into his coat pocket and retrieving a small vial with a thick clear liquid in it. "We had arrested a man a few months ago who was trying to kill a man in town, and this was seized off his person, I am told it is something called Carrion Crawler Mucus, and it is quite potent, though I don't know much more than that." ( 1 dose of Carrion Crawler Mucus)
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:19, Sat 10 July 2021.

Hope looks at the offered vial and nods. She was not one to condone the use of poisons, but the woman needed as edge - especially if they faced the Dragonborn again. “Thank you. I know you don’t look favourably to this….” Holding up the vial. “….but it could mean that we live through this, especially with that lizard out there.” She didn’t know what it did, and didn’t care. The fact was that the vial could help them live.

She stored the mucus away in a pouch safely. Shouldering her pack, she sighed. “So….shall we go wreak a cult, kill a Dragonborn and stop the resurrection of a evil dragon thingy?”

Korym composes himself, and knocks on the door, calling out, "Master Willcot? Governor Nighthill suggested you might be able to help me with some arcane supplies?"

Muffled words can be heard from the other side of the door, but no discernable words can be made out. Then moments later the large wooden door opens revealing a human man, maybe twenty years old, he is dressed in blood stained robes inscribed with arcane symbols. His hair is a mess, and it looks like he has been through hell.

He raises a blood stained hand to shake Korym's until he realizes how dirty his hand is and withdraws it and simply half heartedly waves. "Hello, I am Master Wilcot. Now really isn't a good time, I am going to need some sleep before I can cast anything for you, it will just have to wait until tomorrow." He says leaning on the door for support.

"I know how you feel, Master Willcot. But I am not in need of your spellcasting, rather, Governor Nighthill suggested you may be able to provide me with access to some arcane supplies.

My companions and I have been tasked to track the raiders to their lair and as the only wizard in the group, I need to bolster my spellbook."

Korym looks a little embarrassed, but he continues, as he reaches into his pack, and pulls out Felosiel's spellbook.

"I...er...we captured this spellbook from one of the raiders. I need the supplies to copy two of the spells into my own spellbook. I have the money to do that."

I would also like to cast a ritual from my spellbook, Find Familiar, but I need access to a bronze brazier, and I need some specific incense, herbs, and charcoal...and honestly, I am a bit short of the required funds.

However, I also captured this spell component pouch from the raider which is typically valued more than the components, I need. Would you take it in trade?"

The elf takes a breath, as he realises that he has spoken without letting Willcot get a word in.

---

50 gp x 2 for copying Colour Spray and Magic Missile into spellbook.
10 gp for components for Find Familiar; spell component pouch is listed at 25 gp.

Fina smiles at Hope.  "One thing at a time - first we do the steaky stuff, then we do the stabby stuff.  It'll all come in time, I suppose, but believe me, it'll come."  The sheer confidence in her voice that their group would be able to stop these plans is clear as day - nothing was going to stop you.  Nothing.

"A fellow wizard eh? well come in, do forgive the mess." He says motioning for Korym to enter the room, which, while spacious is crammed full of books, scrolls, stacks of paper, and every thing else one would expect of an old wizard's collection. "I still haven't had a chance to organize all my old master's things, yet.

Anyway, the items you need I have, and am more than willing to lend to a fellow wizard who is on a mission to take the fight to those bastards from last night." He says making his way through a maze of stacked books, until he reaches a large wooden cabinet, and when he opens it, he has to quickly react as a specimen jar tumbles from one of the many overcrowded shelves.

"Heh..." He chuckles to himself as he delicately places the jar back among its fellows. "I have no need for a spell component belt, but I wouldn't mind making a trade for a look at the raider's spell book and yours, and a chance to copy anything I might want from them." He says looking back to Korym.

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O.O.C. you will not need to expend any gold in the process of copying the spells, as he is willing to spot you, so long as he too can copy the spells from the raiders book, and any from you he might not have.

You will still need to spend the 10 gp required for the casting of the Find Familiar spell and and the use of his equipment comes with the spell swap trade.

So just tally up the time you will be spending, and we will say the short rest was 8 hours + any extra Korym chose to spend on this project.

"My condolences...did your master die in the raid last night?"


Korym's eyebrow rises in surprise.

"Of c...course! That would be most generous. Although, my own spellbook is mundane in nature, I have been a sage at the Silverymoon Library for many years, and my book reflects that!

I do not have much time at the moment, only a few hours really. But if it is acceptable to you, I will cast the Find Familiar ritual, and copy two spells from Felosiel's...that's the captured wizard's name..spellbook into my own.

I will leave her spellbook with you, and you can copy any or all of the four spells from it at your leisure. When I return, you can return her spellbook to me and I will provide you with access to my book...and perhaps I could have a peek at yours?"

Korym pauses for a moment, "And if I do not return, Felosiel's spellbook is yours to keep."

---

Cast Find Familiar - 70 minutes, needs his spellbook to cast it as a ritual - will summon the spirit in the form of a bat.

Copy Colour Spray and Magic Missile: 4 hours, needs both spellbooks to copy and paste.

Meditate for 4 hours to get equivalent of 8 hours rest. Just over 9 hours total time.