With supreme effort, Darius resists the urge to reach for his dagger. Instead he nods meekly and heads toward the food prep tent.
When no one is looking, he blends in with the crowd and goes off in another direction.
Yeah, you. You're new around here right? Right. Well Cookie needs help prepping the meals so you've been promoted to potato peeler. Now you, he turns to Rhen, You could with a bow? It doesn't matter just get up to the watch tower and take your turn on duty. Do try to look menacing up there.
Rhen extends his hand with 5 fingers, "Yessir! Praise Tiamat!" and heads off to the watch tower.
On the way, he thinks this may work out to some advantage because, if his companions make their move to free any prisoners tonight, his watchtower will be a weak link in the security chain.
Sitting comfortably in the confines of a crevice in the cliffside, Ragar looks around, wondering how they will get the prisoners out.
Did the prisoners appear in any condition to climb the cliff? How can we herd them out to safety?
Gilandiril looks up from his spellbook at Ragar's question, rubs his eyes to banish his fatigue, and replies, "Unfortunately, I did not get a close look at the prisoners. I am not certain whether they are in any shape to climb."
He turns to the gnome and asks, "Zatqualmie, do you think the prisoners can manage the ascent out of the camp or would we be better off trying to slip past whatever guards are posted at the canyon entrance?"
I don't think they can climb it... Zat responds, slowly and calmly.
Gilandiril nods gravely at Zatqualmie's response and says, "In that case, we should probably try to sneak them away as quietly as we can, using the tents and trees to conceal our escape."
He peers out from their hiding place, watching and listening to determine whether activity in the camp has died down enough for them to attempt to rescue the prisoners.
"With any luck, Darius and Rhen will return soon. Let us hope they haven't been discovered."
Darius approached the cave cautiously. He hoped everyone was alright.
"Psst! Fellows, it's me."
***
Once he'd been brought up to speed, he told everyone about Rhen.
"I think he'll be okay. I couldn't give him a message, but the fact that he didn't beat me back here must mean he's probably sticking around to keep up appearances. He might even be trying to open up a way in for us."
The scholar then drew a rough map on the cavern floor.
"Rhen will be posted here. I think this should be our point of entry."
That sounds great. Let's wait until activity draws to a crawl, and we can make our move.
Once everyone is ready, Zat sneaks forward to free the prisoners, starting with the Monk Leosin. okimgonnagofreetheprisonersjustbereadytorunreallyfastbecauseifigetcaughtimg onnamakeasceneandthenillberunningreallyfastfortheexitthisoughtaberealawesom elikethemostawesomethingiveeverdoneexceptmaybethattimeigotanogretochasemear oundtown *deep breath*
Ok, I'll go free the prisoners...
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Sneaking into the camp is no issue waiting until the wee hours of the night when everyone is in a drunken stupor.
Freeing the prisoners is a breeze, but the malnourished monk speaks weakly, "No, not yet, I haven't learned everything I need to yet. He continues to feebly protest as you unlock his chains, and still continues as he falls to the ground, unable to bare his own weight.
cmoncmoncmoncmoncmoncmonwegottago!wecantwaitthemeankoboldsaregonnacomebacks oon! Zatqualmie implores the monk
Gilandiril moves to join Zatqualmie as quietly as he can.
When he reaches the prisoners, Gilandiril kneels beside the collapsed half-elf and whispers, "Leosin, your servant, Nesim Waladra, bade us find you and bring you back. You and these others will not survive imprisonment here much longer. We must leave now, while we have a chance of escape."
He tries to help Leosin to his feet, leaning on his staff for support.
Darius separates from the others to retrieve Rhen first. He calls out to the ranger and the two leave to help with the prisoners.
"No, not yet, I haven't learned everything I need to yet." He continues to feebly protest as you unlock his chains, and still continues as he falls to the ground, unable to bare his own weight.
"The pursuit of knowledge is a noble goal, grandfather. But if you die here, your knowledge dies with you. We must go."
As the camp activity dies down, Rhen makes an excuse to climb down from the watch tower to take a leak. He will then slip away as best he can to rejoin the crew.
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Rhen makes his way safely out of camp under the cover of night he meets with the others and the prisoners. Leosin confirms all information gathered.
The monks waiting for him in Greenest are delighted to see Leosin alive, as well as several families of other prisoners.
Governor Nighthill pays their promised 250 gp each and publicly praises their courage and daring.
Darius leaves a note saying that he would like to speak with everyone at the local tavern.
Once everyone has gathered, the elf who they had seen coldly take down enemies was ringing hs hands in nervousness.
"I'm glad you're all here. I have, well, a, er, a bit of a confession to make. My father, you see, he recently passed. But before he did he confided in me that he had gotten mixed up with a very dangerous group -- which is, to be frank, not surprising. He was always a bit restless and unreliable. The term 'scoundrel' would not be remiss in describing him. But he had his limits generally. Lines he wouldn't cross."
Darius sighed and took a hearty swig of water.
"But this time, he found himself unknowingly working for the Cult of the Dragon. He tried to get out, but he was stabbed in the process. And something on the blade - I couldn't identify the poison. And neither could the Cleric of Lathander I hired. But whatever it was jt managed to slowly kill a perfectly healthy elf, even with the aid of magical healing."
"My father only had enough time to warn me about something big happening in Greenest. I - I had no idea it was an attack. If I had -- Gods. I wish I had known. The lives that could have been spared."
Darius looked miserable as he finished.
"Anyways, I just felt that you all ahould now. And I'm sorry."
AhthatsokitremindsmeofthatonetimeIaccidentallystolesomethingfortheblackmask assasinsbutIdidn'tevenknowIwasworkingforthemORthatIwasstealingI justthoughtIwastakingsomethingbackfromsomebadpersonbutitturnedoutIwasthebad personbutdon'tworryitallworkedoutintheend. *deep intake of breath*
That's okay Darius. I'm sure your dad was a great guy just like you!
Hmmmm...I understand your concern, but you have demonstrated yourself as loyal to our fight. I for one can tell you that you cannot dwell in the faults of your father. Mine had too many to count.
"Maybe we should review what we know about the Cult and their camp." Rhen speaks up.
"One: They're settled in and planning to stay for a long time because they're going to hatch a clutch of dragon eggs."
"Two: Greenest is the closest large town so it'll continue to be vulnerable to further raids."
"Three: The camp is run by half-dragons - Rezmir, primarily, supported by Cyanwrath, the guy who dueled Ragar."
"Four: Rezmir is very secretive about her next plans."
He thinks for a moment, then, "We really need to debrief with Leosin and find out what they wanted him for."
"Thank you, Zat. And thank you, Ragar. My father was -- complicated. But for all his faults, I loved him dearly. And I would very much like a chance to strike back at the Cult."
***
Darius listened to Rhen account their findings, his head nodding with each point.
"I should point out that we don't actually know the time table on the dragon eggs. It could be anywhere from a couple days to months from now. And any reliability is suspect if they have sufficient magic. They could put the eggs in stasis or teleport them."
"As for attacking the town again -- perhaps, but I don't see why they would. If there was something specific they wanted from here, why bring an army? A few capable agents would do. My guess is that they were here for plunder. The question is 'why?' The cult is not without resources of its own, so why stoop to banditry? Something else is at work, but I'd be damned if I could tell you what."
Is it worth it to assault the caves to destroy the eggs? Maybe we could head there with the hunters, or posing as them, that bring food? Just thinking out loud...
"We could keep an eye on them at least. But as long as their full force remained, I don't see us having any hope of getting in and out safely. There's just too many of them."
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Leosin needs several days to recover.
Once Leosin is healthy, he informs you of is intent to head north to Elturel to convey what he, and you, have learned to Ontharr Frume, a paladin of Torm, who shares his concern over the Cult of the Draogn's recent surge in activity. He also says, After all you've done already for me personally and for the people of Greenest, I hate to ask anything more from you. But the need is great, and I dare to hope that you can aid me one time more. I need you to return to the cultists' camp. You know your way around it now. If the cultists are preparing to conduct another raid, or a large body of them marches away, or if anything substantial is carried into or out of that cave, I need to know. If you have a chance to get into the camp and look around again, that would be the ideal way to spot anything that's changed.
I don't recommend letting yourselves get captured he adds with a wry smile.
Well, their raid may give us the chance to get in that cave.
"We would need to be very careful if their forces are still there."
But then Darius' eyes narrowed suspiciously.
"But might I ask, Master Erlanthur, exactly what is your interest with the Cult of the Dragon?"
"I don't suppose you could be more a bit more forthcoming. That's an extremely vague answer."
Darius' mouth opens and closes a few times. "Er - alright then. We'll meet you in Elturel then, I suppose. But how can we find you once we're there?"
A young Tiefling woman, with long horns curving backwards, long black hair and patrician features, dressed in an elegant purple dress and finely made heel boots emerges from among the freed prisoners and approaches the group. With her expensive jewelry and dress and the way she bears herself, it is easy to see she has to be a courtier, if not a noble.
"Excuse my intrusion, gentlemen," she courtseys. "First of all let me express my gratitude for your heroic rescue. Though I am ashamed to have fallen into such a predicament in the first place, I shouldn't have let myself fall into these cultists' hands but have been there to save them."
She stops for a moment then courtseys a second time "My name is Zethaya Mistvale, I overheard your conversation and I would ask you to allow me to accompany you."
Zat spends his time scurrying around the Cultist's camp.
He attempts to sabotage or otherwise make life miserable for the raiders and their dragon cultist friends.
Darius makes a note of "Onthar Frume, Paladin of Torm - in Elturel" in his log.
***
"Excuse my intrusion, gentlemen," she courtseys. "First of all let me express my gratitude for your heroic rescue. Though I am ashamed to have fallen into such a predicament in the first place, I shouldn't have let myself fall into these cultists' hands but have been there to save them."
She stops for a moment then courtseys a second time "My name is Zethaya Mistvale, I overheard your conversation and I would ask you to allow me to accompany you."
"Ah, yes, I remember you. Uh, don't get me wrong, I'm not above getting some additional help. But are you sure this is what you want? This could end up being very dangerous. Are chances of success are nowhere near guaranteed."
"I assure you I understand the danger, and though I may not look the part, I know how to handle myself in a fight should it come to that. And I bring a finesse with words... and the mind itself... that would be useful in such an endeavor"
Rhen joins the conversation, "Indeed, having a companion who can talk her way out of a fight may be of help. I don't believe any of us are very accomplished at swaying opinions. But I think you should consider packing away that dress and those boots. We are going to be living rough for a while and I fear your courtly clothing will suffer for it."
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When you return to the camp you find it mostly abandoned. The stinking huts of the kobolds have been burned, but the other huts belonging to the hunters remain as do the guard towers.
Arriving in the morning you do not see the hunters, as they probably left early to hunt some game.
The only thing of interest remaining in the camp is the cave itself, which you can see from the camp.
Darius observed the multiple daggers and the purple jewel arcane focus on her person.
"Somehow I think she'll be fine, Master Rhen."
He then snapped his fingers, suddenly remembering.
"Tents. We should buy tents. Perhaps a donkey. Still so much to do. If you'll excuse me, I have to find an ass. It was a pleasure meeting you, Lady Mistvale. If you still wish to join us, be here tomorrow at dawn. That's when we'll be leaving."
Darius goes off in search of some last minute supplies.
When you return to the camp you find it mostly abandoned. The stinking huts of the kobolds have been burned, but the other huts belonging to the hunters remain as do the guard towers.
Arriving in the morning you do not see the hunters, as they probably left early to hunt some game.
The only thing of interest remaining in the camp is the cave itself, which you can see from the camp.
"Let's make our way slowly down. We should assume someone is guarding the cave, so let's not approach it recklessly."
Zethaya invokes a spell and black smoke gathers around her momentarily before dissipating, she then reaches a hand out to the side and pulls a large black sword from a small cloud of gathering smoke and flames.
She shoulders the weapon: "I agree, we don't want to raise any alarms."
Zat trots off ahead of everyone, headless of the danger